Validating the ethnomedicinal uses of Aegle marmelos, an Ayurvedic medicine

In this study, researchers from Australia and South Korea reviewed scientific evidence verifying the pharmacological activities of Aegle marmelos. Their article was published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine.

• A. marmelos is commonly known as bael in Nepal and India. It is a member of the Rutaceae, or citrus family.
• Bael is a valuable medicinal plant and is sacred to the Hindus.
• In Ayurveda, bael is used to treat several diseases, especially by ethnic communities residing in the Indian subcontinent.
• For more than 5,000 years, these people have been using the leaves, bark, stem, fruits and seeds of bael for various medicinal purposes.
• For instance, bael fruit is known to be an effective remedy for chronic diarrhea, dysentery and peptic ulcers.
• It is also useful as a laxative and treatment for respiratory infections.
• Recently, bael has attracted scientific attention because of its anti-cancer properties, which can be used to treat different types of cancer.

Many studies have validated the ethnomedicinal uses of A. marmelos, which are due to the plant’s antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, antidiarrheal, gastroprotective, anti-ulcerative colitis, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective and radioprotective activities.

Journal Reference:

Manandhar B, Paudel KR, Sharma B, Karki R. PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF AEGLE MARMELOS LINN. Journal of Integrative Medicine. May 2018;16(3):153–163. DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2018.04.007