Bilva

 Bilva(Aegle marmelous)

Bael or bilva tree is indigenous to India, but is now found in many Asian countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mynamar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. Botanically, the plant belongs to monotypic genera in the Orange group. The tree is generally large which grows to about 8-10 meters in height. It has a wide trunk with long, straight branches and sweet, aromatic leaves. The fruit of this tree are hard, woody and smooth with flesh inside. The flesh can be eaten fresh or dried.

Chemical Constituents

The biochemicals found in Bael include skimmianine, aegelin, lupeol, cineol, citral, citronellal, cuminaldehyde, eugenol, mermelosin, luvangetin, aurapten, psoralen, marmelide, fagarine, marmin and tannin. Parts of the tree which are used for medicinal purposes include fruit- both ripe and unripe, seeds and the leaves.

Health benefits

Gastroprotection properties: Gastroduodenal ulcers are the most common form of gastric ulcers. Such ulcers develop when there is an imbalance in the acid mucosa levels, or due to oxidative stress along the gastric tract. Experiments gave positive results in gastric ulcer inhibition. The phenolic compounds found in bael extracts possessed potent antioxidants which helped in reducing gastric ulcers.

Control of diabetes: Oxidative stress induced hyerglacemia or diabetes can be reduced to a great extent by extracts of bael leaf. Studies have shown that administering leaf extracts of bael reduced blood glucose levels up to 54%.

Cholesterol control: Bael leaf extracts were studied for their cholesterol control. They were effective in decreasing blood cholesterol levels comparable to modern drugs. Bael leaf extracts controlled not just blood cholesterol levels but also triglycerides and serum and tissue lipid profiles.

Antimicrobial properties: Bael leaves, roots and fruit extracts have been studied for their antimicrobial properties. The extracts showed inhibition of many bacterial strains. Apart from bacteria, bael extracts were also effective in controlling fungal and viral infections. The antimicrobial properties are due to the presence of biochemicals such as cuminaldehyde and eugenol.

Anti-inflammatory properties: Bael extracts possess anti-inflammatory properties which help in reducing histamine induced contractions and induce positive relaxant effect in the inflamed regions or organs.

Constipation: Bael fruit can be taken for reducing constipation. The flesh of the fruit is believed to possess laxative properties, and it also cleans and tones up the intestines. Taking ripe fruit everyday for about 2-3 months can eliminate acute and sub-chronic constipation.

Dysentery and diarrhoea: According to Ayurveda, diarrhoea and dysentery without fever can be treated with bael fruit. The fruit can be dried and mixed with jaggery or brown sugar.