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Foster · 11-12-07, 22:53

ORGANIC RESOURCE GUIDE
Neem oil products:
Trilogy® (also packaged as Triact, Green Light NeemConcentrate, and Green Light Rose Defense) is neem oil that has
had the azadirachtin and at least some other components separated
from it. It is called “clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil”. 100%
cold pressed neem oil is also being sold as a “plant wash,” but has
no pesticide label.
Neem oil soap products
Organica® K+ Neem is derived from neem oil that is saponified
to create potassium salts of fatty acids, which are considered to
be soap. It also contains 75% inert ingredients.
HOW IT WORKS: Pesticide active ingredients are based on neem seed
extracts, including azadirachtin, neem oil and neem oil soap. Azadirachtin,
one of the more than 70 compounds produced by the neem tree, acts mainly
as an insect growth regulator, but also has anti-feedant and oviposition
(egg-laying) deterrent properties. First isolated in 1968, azadirachtin is
thought to be the most bioactive ingredient found in the neem tree; however,
such speculation may be due to it having been investigated more thoroughly
then the other compounds (Thacker 2002, Quarles 1994). Most
commercially available neem products list azadirachtin as the primary active
ingredient. Such products are broad-spectrum insecticides, which work by
contact or ingestion. As an insect growth regulator, azadirachtin prevents
insects from molting by inhibiting production of ecdysone, an insect hormone.
Azadirachtin is chemically similar to ecdysonlids, the hormones
responsible for triggering molts (Weinzierl and Henn 1991). As an antifeedant
it may cause an insect to stop feeding after ingestion due to secondary
physiological effects. As an egg-laying deterrent, volatile compounds
from neem may repel some insects from depositing eggs on a plant surface.
There is evidence that other compounds found in neem have insecticidal
attributes that contribute to a given product’s efficacy. A study conducted at
Washington State University in conjunction with the W.R. Grace and
Company (manufacturers of the neem product Margosan-O at the time)
found that products containing both azadirachtin and neem oil have greater
efficacy in controlling aphids than either ingredient alone (Stark and Walter
1995). They hypothesize that neem oil may help spread the chemicals on
both plant and insect surfaces and allow them to penetrate into the insect
more effectively. Neem seed oil is formulated and used somewhat like other
horticultural oils and controls some foliar diseases as well as certain insects
and mites. The oil is also made into an insecticidal soap, which probably
acts similarly to other insecticidal soaps by disrupting insect membranes.

11-12-07, 22:53	#10 (permalink)
Foster jimisinit Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,236	ORGANIC RESOURCE GUIDE Neem oil products: Trilogy® (also packaged as Triact, Green Light NeemConcentrate, and Green Light Rose Defense) is neem oil that has had the azadirachtin and at least some other components separated from it. It is called “clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil”. 100% cold pressed neem oil is also being sold as a “plant wash,” but has no pesticide label. Neem oil soap products Organica® K+ Neem is derived from neem oil that is saponified to create potassium salts of fatty acids, which are considered to be soap. It also contains 75% inert ingredients. HOW IT WORKS: Pesticide active ingredients are based on neem seed extracts, including azadirachtin, neem oil and neem oil soap. Azadirachtin, one of the more than 70 compounds produced by the neem tree, acts mainly as an insect growth regulator, but also has anti-feedant and oviposition (egg-laying) deterrent properties. First isolated in 1968, azadirachtin is thought to be the most bioactive ingredient found in the neem tree; however, such speculation may be due to it having been investigated more thoroughly then the other compounds (Thacker 2002, Quarles 1994). Most commercially available neem products list azadirachtin as the primary active ingredient. Such products are broad-spectrum insecticides, which work by contact or ingestion. As an insect growth regulator, azadirachtin prevents insects from molting by inhibiting production of ecdysone, an insect hormone. Azadirachtin is chemically similar to ecdysonlids, the hormones responsible for triggering molts (Weinzierl and Henn 1991). As an antifeedant it may cause an insect to stop feeding after ingestion due to secondary physiological effects. As an egg-laying deterrent, volatile compounds from neem may repel some insects from depositing eggs on a plant surface. There is evidence that other compounds found in neem have insecticidal attributes that contribute to a given product’s efficacy. A study conducted at Washington State University in conjunction with the W.R. Grace and Company (manufacturers of the neem product Margosan-O at the time) found that products containing both azadirachtin and neem oil have greater efficacy in controlling aphids than either ingredient alone (Stark and Walter 1995). They hypothesize that neem oil may help spread the chemicals on both plant and insect surfaces and allow them to penetrate into the insect more effectively. Neem seed oil is formulated and used somewhat like other horticultural oils and controls some foliar diseases as well as certain insects and mites. The oil is also made into an insecticidal soap, which probably acts similarly to other insecticidal soaps by disrupting insect membranes.