Definition of azadirachtin
plural azadirachtins
: a chemical compound C35H44O16 that occurs in the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and is used as an insecticide
- Most of neem's pesticidal punch comes from the compound azadirachtin, which disrupts insects' growth as well as dampening their appetite.
- —Leslie Land, New York Times, 10 May 2007
- Azadirachtin causes hormonal imbalances and disrupts the maturation cycle in insects, which results in unsuccessful molts, or heavily deformed immature insect stages.
- —Illinois Blasdel, Landscape Management, April 2005
