Dr. Kuntal Satkar, Assistant Professor, 
College of Agriculture & Research Station, Garianband
Yogendra Singh, Assistant Professor, 
College of Agriculture & Research Station, Korba

Bael (Aegle Marmelos) has been known from prehistoric times in India with mythological importance. Each part of the tree like root, bark, fruit, leaf, and flower has therapeutic significance in Ayurvedic as well as other traditional medicinal systems in treating ailments. It is known by different names such as bili, bilbam, bilbam, bil, katori, belo, bal, and aeglemarmelos. This slow-growing tree is found to have a medium height of nearly about 762 cm and plant parts include bark, leaf, flower, fruit, and seed. Extensive use of bael has been found in Ayurveda and traditional medicine system. Each part bael tree is found to have the potential for curing various diseases.

The fruit contains about 61% moisture and multiple vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamins B1 and B2, and vitamin C, along with minerals like potassium, phosphorous, iron, and calcium.

Leaf
In the treatment of jaundice, asthma, it is found to be very useful. Bael leaves are a good aid in removing mucilage secretion from bronchial tubes. Application is found in conjunctivitis treatment and even in curing constipation, deafness, and leucorrhoea. Bowel syndrome may be treated by bael leaf powder. It is used as a remedial measure in the treatment of beriberi.

Fruits
Treatment of thyroid in body parts has been accelerated with fruit extract. Fruit pulp in milk mixed with sugar is helpful in urinogenital disorders. It may be used as an antiscorbutic and stomatic agent. Intestinal ulcer as well as chronic constipation and indigestion related issues may be cured. It may also be used in gonorrhea, heart tonic, and epilepsy. Ripe fruit juice extract helps in lowering blood sugar levels owing to its bitter flavour. Chronic gastrointestinal disorder, piles treatment, and rectum inflammation have also been found to get cured. Powdered fruit and mustard oil in the ratio 1:2 is used in southern Chattisgarh in burn treatment.

Flower
The flower has astringent as well as antiseptic properties, used in epilepsy. Marmala water, isolated after distillation from the flower is found helpful in catering conjunctivitis. Bael flower extract has been tested for wound healing properties. It is reported that mRNA expression has been increased by inhibition of nitric oxide, the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thus increasing wound healing in rats.

Root and bark
The decoction of root and bark is useful in melancholia, heart palpitation, and intermittent fever. In preparation for a popular ayurvedic medicine dashmula bael tree root is used as one of the ingredients. Bael root extract with onion, turmeric in equal proportion has been useful in secretion from ears. It is used as one of the ingredients of Chyavanprash. Root bark may be used as a fish poison and fever treatment, whereas bark decoction, leaf extract with honey and bael extract is used in fever, febrifuge as well as in intermittent fever.

Phytochemicals in bael
Tannin present in bael exhibits astringent properties, a magical remedy for diarrhea. Bael contains a good number of polyphenols as well as flavonoids. Bael fruit pulp, fruit juice have been reported to be rich in numerous health-boosting polyphenols. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids have been accumulated in bael pulp. The most important polyphenols and flavonoids include alkaloids, coumarins, polysaccharides, and carotenoids. Polyphenols present in bael depends on the maturity stage of bael. From showing anti oxidant activities to lipid cholesterol absorption these phytochemicals possess immense health benefits. Phenolic compounds in bael fruit juice include caffeic acid, arbutin, cholorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-coumaroyl, quinic acid, and protocatecheuic acid. Terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides have been isolated from bael fruit. Bael leaves also retains phytochemicals in a good amount, the reported compounds include γ-sitosterol, rutin, β sitosterol, glycosides, marmeline, aegelin, marmesinin, halfordiol, phenyl ethyl cinnamamides and lupeol. Catechin, flavanols, flavones, lignin, tannins, and iso-flavones fall under the polyphenol group. lignan glucoside compounds have been isolated from the bark of bael tree. 7, 8- dimethoxy-1- hydroxyl2- methyl anthraquinone and 6-hydroxy-1-methoxy-3-methyl anthraquinone have been reported to be isolated from bael. Skimmiarepin A as well as skimmiarepin C have been isolated from stem bark.

Bael is an underutilized plant, but it is rich in nutritional value and medicinal properties. Apart from the consumption of fresh juice focus must be given to storing the fruit by preparing alternate products and export them.