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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Name |
Aegle marmelos
(Linn.) Correa. ex Roxb.
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Bael Tree |
Bilva,
Shivaphala |
Bel |
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| History |
 It
is called 'Shivadurme', the tree of Shiva, and is one of the
sacred trees of the Hindus. Leaves are offered in prayers to
Shiva and Parvathi since ancient times. It has its own place
in indigenous systems of medicine. The fruit is the subject
of several solar-phallic myths. Hindu physicians regard the
unripe or half-ripe fruit as astringent, digestive and stomachic
and prescribe it to treat diarrhoea and dysentery. The thick
sherbet of the ripe fruit has a reputation among Europeans as
an agreeable laxative. It is also given for piles; and as a
remedy for diarrhoea. The root bark is used as a remedy in hypochondriasis,
melancholia and palpitation of the heart. Fresh leaf juice used
as a laxative and febrifuge is used in asthmatic complaints
and jaundice. The chinese used the leaves and young fruits to
adulterate Opium. In Bengal it is used for dysentery. In Concar,
small and unripe fruits are used for piles. The juice of bark
is a remedy for poverty of seminal fluid. .
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| Habitat |
It is found
in India, Burma, and Sri Lanka, often planted in the vicinity
of Shiva temples. It grows wild all over the sub-Himalayan forests,
central India and its west coast and in dry hilly places ascending
to 4,000 ft. high.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
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It is a medium to large sized deciduous, glabrous and armed tree
with axillary and 2.5 cm long spines. Leaves alternate, 3-5 foliate,
leaflets are ovate to lanceolate, crenate, acuminate, membranous
and petiololed. Flowers in short axillary panicles, large and scented.
Calyx pubescent and four lobed. Petals 4, white and gland dotted.
Stamens many. Ovary ovoid, cells 10-20, ovules many, fruit globose,
grey or yellowish, rind woody. Seeds many, oblong, compressed, embedded
in reddish yellow coloured sweet pulp.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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 Aegelin,
formerly identified as sterol but clarified as a neutral alkaloid,
rutacine, g- sitosterol, aegelemine and
aegeline were identified from the leaves1. Marmin, marmesin,
umbelliferine, skimmianine were identified from the bark and roots2.
A major constituent of the fruit is the mucilage and marmelosin
(0.5 %) a coumarin, in addition to the minor constituents like reducing
sugar, essential oils, ascorbic acid and various minerals.
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| Pharmacology |
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Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves have similar effect
as digoxin in amplitude and contractions of the frog's heart. Alcoholic
extract of the roots and fruits showed hypoglycaemic activity in
albino rats and fruit extract has antiviral activity against Ranikhet
disease virus. Marmelosin has anthelmintic activity against ankylistomiasis3.
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| Indications |
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The roots are astringent, bitter and febrifuge. They are useful
in diarrhoea, dysentery, dyspepsia, stomachalgia, cardiopalmus,
seminal weakness, vomiting, intermittent fever and swellings. The
leaves are useful as laxative, febrifuge and expectorant, also in
ophthalmia, deafness, inflammations, catarrh, diabetes and asthmatic
complaints. The fruits are useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, stomachalgia,
and good for heart and brain.
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| Product
Range |
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Diarex (DiarCare), Lukol, Revitalizing Hair Oil, Diarex PFS, Diarex Vet, Bael,
Chyavanaprasha.
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| References |
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Chem Indust 50, 1632, 1955; Bull Calcutta School Trop Med.
4, 167, 1958; Sci and Cult 33, 279, 1967; J Org. Chem 24, 687,1959.
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Tetrahedron Lett. 5, 471, 1967; J Chem Soc, 222, 1959; J Indian
Chem Soc. 37, 334, 1960.
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Indian J Med Res 56, 327, 1968; Indian J Exptl Biol 6, 232,
1968; I J Pharmac 1,6, 1969.
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