Neem Seed Transcriptome

Neem [Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Meliaceae (mahogany) family], the national plant of India is considered as a valuable source of unique natural products for the development of medicines for various diseases and also for the development of industrial products. A. indica has long been recognized for its properties both against insects and in improving human health. Azadirachtin, a complex tetranortriterpenoid limonoid from the neem seeds, is the main component responsible for both antifeedant and toxic effects in insects. Even though molecules from neem have long been recognized as a potent biopesticide, no reports are available to understand their biosynthesis. To understand the biosynthetic network of secondary metabolism, it is important to understand the pathway and identify genes involved in secondary metabolism. In this project, we have carried out transcriptome sequencing of neem seed and leaf to decipher molecular network related to secondary plant product biosynthesis.