Nutraceutical Profiling and Plant-Based Products of Bael for Human Health

Abstract

Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa.), an underutilized fruit in the horticultural sector, has tremendous potential and is equipped with various medicinal properties. Each part of bael such as the leaves, bark, root, flower, and fruit is the source of medicine, and various secondary products can be developed that can be effectively utilized in different fields. It is considered to be one of the most valuable medicinal plants in India due to the curative capabilities that it possesses. Bael is nutritionally rich and has high a value composition with antibacterial, antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic activity. In addition, bael also has hepato-protective, insecticidal, hypoglycaemic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activity. The presence of fibers, polyphenols, carotenoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and coumarins in the plant shows numerous health benefits, namely, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, antiulcerative, cardioprotective, anticancer, gastroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. Although the most valuable and consumable part of the tree is its fruits, leaves, stems, bark, and roots are also utilized in the Ayurveda system of medicine to cure a variety of human ailments. Bael’s pharmaceutical value makes it a great fit in the field of medicine, and its importance rose further due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This plant of Indian origin has tremendous therapeutic potential but has not been fully utilized to date. In this review, we compile all the latest information available on the pharmaceutical properties of bael. Furthermore, future lines of work are also discussed in order to explore the in-depth potential of bael, a gift of god to this earth mankind.