A REVIEW: PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF AEGLE MARMELOS PLANTS

Aegle marmelos (Bael or Bilva), a member of the Rutaceae family, is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine. The plant has been utilized since ancient times for the treatment of various health disorders. Different parts of A. marmelos possess numerous pharmacological properties, including wound healing, antipyretic, antidiarrheal, diuretic, anti-ulcer, antithyroid, immunomodulatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, radioprotective, anti-arthritic, analgesic, and cytoprotective activities. It also exhibits contractile and anti-constipating effects. These therapeutic properties are mainly attributed to the presence of diverse phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, terpenoids, vitamins, coumarins, tannins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, fatty acids, and essential oils. This review summarizes the available information on the morphology, geographical distribution, phytochemical composition, traditional uses, and biological activities of Aegle marmelos.