Phytochemicals and Phytotherapeutic Studies on Different Parts of Aegle marmelos: A Critical Overview

Abstract

Medicines derived from the bael plant (Aegle marmelos Linn.) have made immense contributions to the treatment of various health-related issues. Scientific studies have validated its use in different diseases like antioxidant, antidiarrheal, gastroprotective, anti-ulcerative colitis, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective and anticancer. Different phytochemicals like furocoumarins, aegeline, marmelosin, marmelin, aegelenine, O-methyl halfordinol, psoralen, alloimperatorin, scopoletin etc. present in different parts of the plant are responsible for the activities. As per the literature survey, there is a need for further experiments (both in vitro and in vivo) to find out the mechanism of action of identified bioactive compounds. The acute toxicity data of this plant extract also revealed the safety of this plant. In this review, it can be concluded that this plant has immense potential to be used in the area of drug design from natural lead molecules.