Abstract:

Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa, commonly known as bael or Bel, is a medicinal and fruit-bearing tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It occurs naturally or has become naturalized in countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Historical references to the plant can be traced to the Atharva Veda, highlighting its long-standing significance in traditional Indian culture. Owing to its close association with Lord Shiva, it is believed that the species was revered even during the Harappan civilization. The fruit is known by several common names, including bael fruit, Indian bael, golden apple, elephant apple, Indian quince, and stone apple.Aegle marmelos holds an important place in traditional medicine and is considered a sacred plant in India. It was described in the classical Ayurvedic texts of CharakaandSushruta, where different parts of the plant were recommended for various therapeutic purposes. In particular, the unripe fruit is regarded as more medicinally potent than the ripe fruit and is commercially available in dried, sliced form under the name Belgiri. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented numerous traditional remedies involving A. marmelos in the management of a wide range of ailments. Owing to its medicinal value, the plant was also recognized in the British Pharmacopoeia and later incorporated into Indian pharmacopoeial literature. Today, A. marmelos continues to be valued as an important medicinal, nutritional, and culturally significant species with extensive applications in traditional and modern healthcare systems.