Abstract

Natural products have played a pivotal role in the treatment of various ailments since time immemorial and also in the synthesis of various drugs. The present review has been written consulting various publications, Google Scholar, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Google search. Bael (Aegle marmelos correa) is considered a sacred tree by Hindus and is offered to lord Shiva while worshipping. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and is called by various names in different regions. Bael has been used as a traditional medicine in India and other Southeast Asian countries to treat different human disorders including diarrhea, chronic dysentery, constipation, gonorrhea, catarrh, diabetes, deafness, inflammations, ulcerated intestinal mucosa, intermittent fever, melancholia, and heart palpitation. It has been used to control fertility in humans. Phytochemical analysis has shown that Bael contains alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, lignins, quinones, coumarins, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids, reducing sugars, fat, and oils. The scientific evaluation has demonstrated that various parts of Bael inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antioxidant, and antidiarrheal agent. Various activities of Bael may be attributed to its ability to passivate different free radicals, and suppress nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, cyclooxygenase I and II, interleukins, AKT, and vascular endothelial growth factor. The scientific evaluation validates its traditional use and its potential as a future non-toxic medicine.