ABSTRACT This study investigated the bioactive composition and antifungal efficacy of neem seed extracts (NSE) prepared using acetone, ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanol, and ethanol against Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus . Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed solvent‐specific compounds profiles: ethanol extract contained 35 bioactive compounds (mainly esters and fatty acids), dominated by n ‐hexadecanoic acid (28.65%); methanol extract had 29 diketopiperazines, with 3,6‐bis(2‐methylpropyl)‐2,5‐piperazinedione (45.45%) as major; chloroform, ethyl acetate, and acetone extracts featured long‐chain esters, hydrocarbons, and 2‐heptadecanone (33.15%), respectively. All extracts inhibited fungal growth at 500 mg/mL, whereas ethanol was most effective at 31.25 mg/mL, reducing mycelial biomass by 45%. Methanol and ethanol extracts (250 mg/mL) suppressed aflatoxin (AF) (AFB 1 , AFB 2 ) production by >90%. Six‐month feed trials confirmed neem seed powder (NSP) as a potent biopreservative, achieving complete AF inhibition at 30% concentration. These findings highlight neem's potential as a natural antifungal and anti‐aflatoxigenic agent.
Ali et al. (Sun,) studied this question.