Effect of Natural and Synthetic Additives on the Stability of Azadirachtin under Accelerated Storage

Meliacins free neem oil, oleic acid, epoxygenated derivatives of neem oil and oleic acid as well as synthetic additives namely as thiourea, n-propyl gallate and phenothiazines are reported as stabilizers for azadirachtin-A in neem formulations. In accelerated storage studies, neem oil epoxide + ceenine stabilized azadirachtin-A effectively followed by oleic acid epoxide and n-propyl gallate Investigation of six other synthetic additives as stabilizers for azadirachtin-A revealed that anthraquinone at 2% level (m/m technical azadirachtin-A concentrate) was the most effective; 69.2% of azadirachttn being still present in its 25% concentrate after 14 days of the treatment.