Get Your Personalized Supplement StackSupplement Stack Quiz

Melia Fruit Extract

Also known as: Melia Fruit Extract, Chinaberry fruit extract, Chinaberry tree extract, Melia azedarach L. Fruit Extract

Overview

Melia Fruit Extract is derived from the fruits of *Melia azedarach*, also known as the Chinaberry tree, a species native to the Himalayan region and widely distributed globally. This botanical extract is characterized by a complex phytochemical profile, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, triterpenes, and steroids. Traditionally, it has been utilized in folk medicine for various purposes, and modern research has begun to explore its potential antimicrobial, antiviral, and pesticidal properties. While in vitro and animal studies suggest promising bioactivities, such as antiviral effects against certain lentiviruses and insecticidal actions, high-quality clinical trials in humans are currently lacking. This absence of human data limits definitive conclusions regarding its efficacy and safety as a human supplement, indicating that its use is primarily experimental or traditional at this stage.

Benefits

Research on Melia Fruit Extract has identified several potential benefits, primarily from in vitro and animal studies, with a notable absence of human clinical trials. Its most prominent investigated benefit is **antiviral activity**, where in vitro studies have shown ethanolic extracts to exhibit effects against small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) at concentrations of approximately 150 µg/mL, without observed toxicity at this dose in short-term assays. This suggests a potential for developing antiviral agents, though human relevance is unconfirmed. The extract also demonstrates **antimicrobial and pesticidal effects**, showing repellent and lethal activities against various insect pests. These effects are attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, including triterpenes and phenolics, making it a candidate for natural pest control. Furthermore, animal studies, specifically in diabetic rats, have indicated potential **metabolic benefits**, such as improvements in plasma lipid profiles and glucose metabolism. However, these findings are from animal models and have not been replicated or confirmed in human subjects. The overall strength of evidence for human benefits is low due to the lack of rigorous clinical trials.

How it works

The mechanism of action for Melia Fruit Extract is attributed to its diverse array of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and triterpenes, which are believed to exert their effects through multiple biological pathways. For its observed antiviral activity, the extract may function by inhibiting viral replication or preventing viral entry into host cells, although the precise molecular targets are yet to be fully elucidated. Its pesticidal effects are thought to involve disruption of insect nervous systems or metabolic processes. The antioxidant properties of its phenolic compounds may contribute to any observed metabolic benefits. The complex phytochemical composition suggests a multi-target interaction approach within biological systems. However, detailed information on the specific molecular targets, absorption, and bioavailability in humans is currently unavailable, making a comprehensive understanding of its human physiological interactions incomplete.

Side effects

The safety profile of Melia Fruit Extract for human consumption is largely undefined due to a significant lack of comprehensive human safety data and adverse event reports. In vitro cytotoxicity assays have indicated that while concentrations around 150 µg/mL appear safe in short-term exposure to human cells, higher concentrations can exhibit cytotoxic effects on human cells and aquatic organisms. This suggests a dose-dependent toxicity that warrants caution. As a result, potential toxicity in non-target organisms and environmental impact are significant considerations, particularly when discussing its pesticidal applications. There are no documented drug interactions or contraindications for human use, primarily because no clinical trials have been conducted to assess these aspects. Given the absence of human safety data, the extract should be approached with extreme caution for internal use, and its safety for human supplementation remains unestablished. Users should be aware of the potential for unknown adverse effects and interactions.

Dosage

There are currently no established dosing guidelines for human supplementation with Melia Fruit Extract due to the absence of human clinical trials. The effective concentration observed in experimental antiviral in vitro studies is approximately 150 µg/mL of the extract. However, this concentration is for cell culture applications and cannot be directly translated to a safe or effective human oral dosage. Animal studies have utilized variable doses, but the process of translating these doses to human equivalent doses has not been established or validated. Furthermore, critical factors such as optimal formulation, timing of administration, and the potential requirement for cofactors to enhance efficacy or absorption are undefined. Without human safety and efficacy data, any attempt to establish a dosage for human consumption would be speculative and potentially unsafe. Therefore, Melia Fruit Extract is not recommended for human internal use until comprehensive clinical research provides clear dosing parameters and safety assurances.

FAQs

Is Melia Fruit Extract safe for human use?

Safety in humans is not established. While some in vitro data suggest potential cytotoxicity at high doses, there are no comprehensive human safety studies or adverse event reports available.

Does it have proven antiviral benefits in humans?

No, there are no clinical trials that confirm antiviral efficacy in humans. Antiviral effects have only been observed in in vitro (cell culture) studies.

Can it be used as a natural pesticide?

Yes, research indicates it shows repellent and lethal effects on insect pests in vitro and in ecological studies, suggesting its potential as a natural pesticide.

Are there known side effects for human consumption?

Side effects for human consumption are not documented due to a lack of human clinical trials. However, environmental toxicity has been observed in some studies at higher concentrations.

Research Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6070623/ – This study investigated the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of *Melia azedarach* fruit extract, identifying various compounds and demonstrating its insecticidal and repellent activities. It provides detailed insights into the extract's potential as a natural pesticide, though it lacks human data.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10031174/ – This in vitro study evaluated the antiviral effect of ethanolic extracts from *Melia azedarach* against small ruminant lentivirus. It found that the extract exhibited antiviral activity at a concentration of 150 µg/mL with no observed toxicity in cell cultures over 24 hours, suggesting potential for antiviral development.
https://air.unimi.it/retrieve/224442c4-44c2-40e7-9895-2ae3c7d557fa/1-s2.0-S0048969724054640-main.pdf – This ecotoxicological study assessed the effects of aqueous *Melia azedarach* extract, revealing cytotoxic effects on human cells and aquatic organisms at certain concentrations. It also provided detailed metabolomics, highlighting environmental considerations but not clinical relevance for human supplementation.
https://ijdo.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-363-en.pdf – This animal randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of *Melia azedarach* fruit extract on plasma lipid profiles in diabetic rats. The study found improvements in lipid and glucose parameters, suggesting potential metabolic benefits, though these findings are from an animal model and require human validation.