Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds of Bael (Aegle marmelos) and Development of Functional Food Products

Aegle marmelos, widely known as bael, belongs to the Rutaceae family. It is one of the most inexpensive and appealing fruits, considered to be an essential source of natural antioxidants and bioactive components. The major purpose of the research study was to investigate the nutritional composition and bioactive constituents of bael pulp, as well as to develop new value-added products that maintain the maximum quantity of nutrients. The developed food products were subjected to evaluate sensory attributes according to a nine-point hedonic scale. It was found that the moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber, and total ash content of bael fruit pulp were 61.20%, 2.48%, 0.47%, 3.04%, and 1.29%, respectively. When compared to the catechin standard, the antioxidant activity of such extract indicated good antioxidant capacity, with an IC50 value of 75.68 μg/ml for methanol extract. Vitamin C content was about 10.21 mg/100g. Besides, total flavonoid and phenolic contents were found as 140 mg of Quercetin Equivalent (QE)/g and 106.65 mg of Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g, respectively. Results of sensory attributes revealed that there was a significant difference (P ba and bael bar. The overall acceptability of bael murabba (6.7) and bael bar (7.1) is acceptable in quality, but their specific characteristics were found slightly different by the test panelists. These products might be applicable for the treatment of several diseases like atherosclerosis, diabetes, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, tumor, and osteoporosis.

Studies on the Anti-lipid Peroxidative Actions of the Methanolic Extract of the Root of Aegle marmelos and Its Constituents In Vivo and In Vitro

The inhibitory effect of the methanolic extract of the root of Aegle marmelos (MERA) and its constituents on the lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro were studied. The results suggested that MERA increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH-peroxidase in the liver cytosol of mice, but showed no significant effect on the activity of catalase, and one of its major constituents, 4-methoxy-1-methyl-2-quinolone (MMQ) increased the activity of SOD in liver tissue of mice intoxicated with FeCl2-ascorbic acid (AA)-ADP in vivo. Various constituents isolated from the root of title plant inhibited the lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate, which was in vitro induced by FeCl2-ascorbic acid, CCl4-NADPH, or ADP- NADPH. Of the test compounds, MMQ and its derivatives integriquinolone were similar to (-tocopherol in inhibiting MDA production in rat liver microsomes induced by Fe2+-ascorbate, CCl4-NADPH, or ADP-NADPH.

Two New Coumarins from the Roots of Aegle marmelos Xiu Wei Yang 1, Masao Hattori 2 and Tsuneo Namba 2

Two new coumarins, named marminal (13) and 7' O methylmarmin (15), along with nineteen known compounds: ( sitosteryl pentadecanoate (1), 4 methoxy 1 methyl 2 quinolone (2), aurapten (3), 4 sitosten 3 one (4), lupeol (5), imperatorin (6), xanthotoxin (7), dictamnine (8), (+) epoxyaurapten (9), ( sitosterol (10), ( fagarine (11), skimmianine (12), scoparone (14), umbelliferone (16), scopoletin (17), decursinol (18), marmesin (19), marmin (20), and integriquinolone (21) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the roots of Aegle marmelos Corr. (family Rutaceae).

Phytochemical profile and pharmacological activity of Aegle marmelos Linn

Aegle marmelos Linn.（Rutaceae）, commonly known as ＂bael＂ in Nepal and India, is a valuable medicinal plant and is considered sacred by the Hindus. It is used to cure several diseases in the Indian traditional medicine system of Ayurveda and has had similar uses among many ethnic communities residing in Indian subcontinent for over 5000 years. Its leaves, bark, stem, fruits and seeds have been used for various medicinal purposes. Bael fruits are especially effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhea, dysentery and peptic ulcers, while they are also useful as a laxative and cure for respiratory infections. Scientific studies have validated many of the ethnomedicinal uses of A. marmelos, which include antibacterial,antiviral, antidiarrheal, gastroprotective, anti-ulcerative colitis, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective and radioprotective effects. Recently, this plant has also received attention as an anticancer agent for the treatment of various types of cancers. Thus, this review focuses on scientific evidence verifying the important pharmacological activity such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective,cardioprotective and anticancer activity of A. marmelos.

Determination of Some Ethnomedicinally Important Constituents of Aegle marmelos Fruit During Different Stages of Ripening

AIM:Aegle marmelos is a medicinal herb belonging to the Rutacae family.The fruit of A.marmelos at each stage of ripening is used as ethnomedicine to cure various diseases.The aim of the present study was to determine the components contributing to the medicinal value of the A.marmelos fruit at different stages of ripening.METHODS:High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to determine polyphenol,vitamins,organic acids and sugars in A.marmelos fruit at different stages of ripening.RESULTS:Tannin,a polyphenol responsible for astringent and antimicrobial properties of A.marmelos fruit was found to increase during ripening.Riboflavin,a vital medicinal component was detected in traceable amount only in full-ripe A.marmelos fruit.Ribofla-vin contributes towards body growth,reproduction and red cell production.The content of ascorbic acid(vitamin C)which is useful in preventing scurvy decreased significantly as fruit ripens.CONCLUSIONS:The difference in the medicinal effect of A.marmelos fruit at each stage of ripening might be due to the presence of different amount of polyphenol,vitamins and organic acids.

In-vitro study:Immunomodulatory and cytotoxicity effects of ethanolic leave extracts of Aegle marmelos and Ficus benghalensis

Objective:To assess the immunomodulatory and antibacterial properties of the coastal trees Aegle marmelos(A.marmelos)and Ficus benghalensis(F.benghalensis)by in-vitro methods.Methods:A.marmelos and F.benghalensis leaves were extracted with the solvents di-ethyl ether,ethanol and methanol.The extracts were investigated for antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria and immunomodulatory activity against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC),respectively.Results:F.benghalensis ethanol cold extract gave maximum inhibition zones against Escherichia coli NCIM 2931(B2)at 18 mm and enhanced the growth of human PBMC.It was non-toxic to human PBMC shown by the Tryphan blue dye exclusion method,sulforhodamine B and MTT assays.IR phyto-chemical analysis demonstrated the presence of the functional groups:NH,CH_(2),CH_(3),CO,OH,-C-C=O,and C-S.We confirmed the presence of quantifiable amounts of tannins and alkaloids with traces of phenolic compounds by thin layer chromatography analysis.Conclusions:Leaves of A.marmelos and F.benghalensis provide both antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties.

Effect of high shear homogenization on quality characteristics of bael fruit pulp

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influence of high shear homogenization speed(A:3000-12000 r/min)and processing time(B:30-120 min)on bael fruit pulp quality parameters.The experimental results were best fitted in the suggested quadratic model to delineate and envision the responses in terms of color(values of L^(*),meaning brightness to blackness,1oo-0;a^(*),meaning green-a^(*)to red+a^(*);and b^(*),meaning blue-b^(*)to yellow+b),total soluble solids,ascorbic acid,viscosity,andβ-carotene content with the highest coefficients of determination(R2)ranging from 0.80 to 0.99.Significant(P<0.05)change in the L^(*)value,total soluble solids,ascorbic acid,andβ-carotene content was found with change in homogenization speed.The interaction effect of homogenization showed a significant difference in a^(*)value and total soluble solid content of the pulp.The best homogenization conditions were determined via multiple response optimization as 10682 r/min speed and 43.18 min process time.The quality parameters of the pulp at optimized conditions were observed as L^(*)15.35,a^(*)4.51,b^(*)10.25,ascorbic acid 18.64 mg/100 g,viscosity 5349 cP,andβ-carotene 4.14μg/100 g.In addition,total phenolic content,flavonoid content,and antioxidant content of homogenized bael fruit pulp was found to significantly(P<0.05)increase from(83.76±1.24)to(119.21±1.35)mg gallic acid equivalent(GAE)/100 mL,(147.39±0.69)to(156.10±1.11)mg quercetin equivalent(QE)/100 mL,and(41.77%±0.60%)to(66.53%±0.41%),respectively.Consequently,this strategy could be used in fruit processing industries to process highly fibrous fruits and nonuniform-textured fruit pulptoavoid sedimentation whileretaining functionality.