Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Also known as Neem flower extract, Indian lilac flower extract, Azadirachta indica flower extract, Margosa flower extract
“No regulator has issued a verdict on this ingredient.”
Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract is a botanical extract from the flowers of the neem tree (Melia azadirachta L. = Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Meliaceae — the older Linnaean binomial is retained as the INCI nomenclature). It is used in cosmetic formulations primarily as a skin-conditioning active in Ayurvedic-inspired and K-beauty soothing/clarifying products. Phytochemistry of the flowers includes limonoids (nimbin-class triterpenes), flavonoids (kaempferide, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin), and stigmasterol — distinct from the better-known azadirachtin-rich seed oil and the nimbin-rich leaf. No CIR safety assessment exists for ANY Melia Azadirachta plant-part preparation as of April 2026 — verified absent in the December 2017/July 2018, September 2022, and October 2024 CIR Quick Reference Tables (M section runs Melaleuca → Melamine → Melibiose with no Melia entry). Third-party sources that claim a '2019 CIR Final Report on Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract' could not be substantiated against any cir-safety.org primary document; the claim appears to be a recurring secondary-source fabrication and is NOT cited in this packet. Cosmetic-relevant flower-specific evidence: the 2014 Chem Biodivers study (PMID 24443427) isolated 12 compounds from A. indica flowers and demonstrated melanogenesis-inhibitory activity for kaempferide (41.7% melanin content at 10 μM with strong cell viability) — supports brightening claims at the constituent level, though the whole flower extract has not been clinically validated for this endpoint. The 2004 West Bengal aeropalynology study (PMID 15236497) identified A. indica pollen as among the strongest sensitizing pollens by skin prick test in a clinical population — directly relevant to flower extracts because flower preparations contain pollen as a contaminant.
Phytochemically distinct flower extract — limonoids (nimbin-class triterpenes), flavonoids (kaempferide, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin), and stigmasterol (PMIDs 24443427, 29258345); supports antioxidant and skin-conditioning cosmetic claims at the constituent level
In vitro melanogenesis-inhibitory activity demonstrated for flower-isolated flavonoid kaempferide (41.7% melanin content at 10 μM with strong cell viability per PMID 24443427) — provides constituent-level support for brightening claims, though whole-extract clinical validation is absent
Long ethnobotanical history of safe topical and ritual use of neem flowers in South Asian Ayurvedic and Siddha skincare traditions (paste applications for skin conditions, bath additives, hair preparations)
Adjunct/secondary use alongside the better-studied neem leaf extract and seed oil in Ayurvedic-inspired cosmetic formulations; flower preparations are typically mild aqueous extracts versus the more potent seed-oil and leaf preparations
Plant: Melia azadirachta L. (= Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Meliaceae); the flower-derived extract is compositionally distinct from the same-species LEAF extract (parallel packet) and the seed-derived oil
No completed CIR safety assessment as of 2026-04 — verified absent in the December 2017/July 2018, September 2022, and October 2024 Quick Reference Tables for ALL Melia Azadirachta plant-part preparations (flower, leaf, bark, seed oil). The QRT M section runs Melaleuca → Melamine/Formaldehyde Resin → Melibiose with no Melia row. US safety verdict is unavailable; rely on constituent-level evidence and general botanical-extract dermatology for risk assessment.
Documented pollen sensitization potential — Azadirachta indica pollen identified as among the strongest sensitizing airborne pollens by skin prick test in a 2-year clinical aeropalynology survey of 31 pollen types (PMID 15236497, Boral et al. 2004). Flower extracts may contain pollen as an unintentional co-extract; risk is highest for individuals with pre-existing pollen allergies or for occupational exposure in regions where neem grows.
Phytochemical complexity differs from leaf and seed-oil extracts — flower-specific bioactives include limonoids (nimbin-class triterpenes), kaempferide, quercetin, myricetin, and stigmasterol (PMIDs 24443427, 29258345, 36898255). Cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines (IC50 4.5-9.9 μM in PMID 24443427) is mechanistically interesting but does NOT translate directly to topical safety; cytotoxicity assays do not predict dermal irritation or sensitization endpoints.
Cross-species naming ambiguity — 'Melia azadirachta' (the INCI name retained from Linnaeus 1753) and 'Azadirachta indica A. Juss.' (the modern accepted botanical name reclassified in 1830) are the same species (neem tree); a SEPARATE species 'Melia azedarach' (chinaberry) is a different and more toxic plant. Sourcing should verify the INCI corresponds to true neem (A. indica), not chinaberry.
Topical/dermal safety evidence base is small — most published flower-specific studies tested oral or in vitro endpoints (cholesterol-lowering, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, melanogenesis-inhibitory in cell culture). No human dermal patch-test studies or HRIPT data on the cosmetic-grade extract were located.