**8.7 Antispermatogenic activity**

*A. marmelos* can affect the capability of fertility in male candidates. Generally fruit, leaf, and seeds can play this antifertility activity. Marmin and fagarine can reduce the fertility activity of male, and these two compounds are found in bark extract of *A. marmelos* in greater amount. It has been reported that methanolic extract of *A. marmelos* can reduce the serum testosterone level and also reduce the weight of the reproductive organ [61]. This reduction depends on the concentration of the dose taken and time duration [61]. Sperm viability, density, motility, and sperm acrosomal integrity all these can reduce by the effect of methanolic extract of *A. marmelos*. Condensation and degeneration of nuclear chromatin and exfoliation of extended spermatids were found in the study of histopathology and the availability of space within germinal epithelium denoting necrosis and testicular cytotoxicity. The experiment on rats has been observed that *A. marmelos* extract affects infertility, but this is temporary and totally time- and dose-dependent, and the most important thing is after the removal of the treatment, there is a complete restoration of morphological and physiological parameters [110]. It opens a new possibility to the development of herbal contraceptive for males because it can stop fertile power, and after the removal of treatment, it can do complete restoration of the fertile power [111].

#### **8.8 Diuretic activity**

Through urination, our body expels out the salt and other materials with water and balances body temperature and water level. Those suffering from water retention and anxiety need medication. *A. marmelos* leaves and roots are natural source of providing diuretic activity to increase urination level for such individuals, whereas roots are more beneficial than leaves. At higher dose (500 mg/kg) ethanolic extracts of *A. marmelos* fruit result in significant increase in sodium excretion. Extracted fraction of ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, and chloroform of *A. marmelos* fruit showed effective diuretic activity [61].

#### **8.9 Antigenotoxic activity**

Antigenotoxic activity of *A. marmelos* fruit extract can be estimated by using the peripheral human blood lymphocytes and *E. coli* PQ37. Chromotest (*E. coli* PQ37) SOS response is induced by aflatoxin B1 and H2O2, and it is prevented by the acetone and methanol. In general, SOS response is a response to DNA damage, in which cell cycle is arrested followed by DNA repair and mutagenesis is induced. Genotoxicity

*Medicinal Uses with Immense Economic Potential and Nutritional Properties… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102876*

of aflatoxin B1 and hydrogen peroxide is inhibited by 84.65 and 70.48%, respectively, by the action of methanol extract of *A. marmelos* fruit [19]. Presence of different polyphenolic components in the fruit extract accounts for the antigenotoxic activity and has the ability to save DNA from the S9-dependent mutagens and reactive oxygen species. Several researchers revealed that in metabolism of aflatoxin B1, the enzyme activity can be inhibited by the polyphenols present in *A. marmelos* fruit extract [112].

### **8.10 Radioprotective activity**

Radiotherapy is used in the treatment of cancer, but it has some side effects, which are harmful. The side effect occurs due to invariable exposure of radio sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of ionized radiation on treatment. At the time of ionized radiation treatment, many cells are damaged because of the formation of free radicals, which can be effectively countered by antioxidant compounds [113]. It has been reported that bael fruit juice has potential to minimize the effect of free radicals; as a result, the severity reduces and survival probability is enhanced in mice [114]. In the radiation treatment of mouse in intestine and bone marrow, the detrimental effect of radiation is significantly reduced by *A. marmelos* fruit extract [115]. The hydroalcoholic extract of *A. marmelos* when administered intraperitoneally in mice has been watched that there is increase in survival rate after exposure to gamma radiation at a lethal dose of 10 Gy [116]. The inhibition power to the radiation of *A. marmelos* fruit and leaf extracts is due to free radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation associated by the improvement in GSH concentration in the spleen, kidney, intestine, and liver [115, 117]. On comparison of inhibition power to the radiation between the *A. marmelos* plant parts, then the leaf extract was found better, and this can provide extra protection from hematopoietic and gastrointestinal damages.

#### **8.11 Antidiabetic activity**

Nowadays, one of the very common diseases is diabetes mellitus. Stressful lifestyle, fastfood consumption, and genetic issues make diabetes a very common disease [118]. Specially, oxidative stress of the body is closely related with this disease. *A. marmelos* fruit juice increases the utilization of glucose by stimulation and the effect looks like similar to the function of insulin [119, 120]. Fruit juice can improve blood circulation by dilating the blood vessels; as a result of this, blood clot formation is reduced, which helps to remove diabetes (**Figure 3a**). Amino acids and dietary fiber are present in the fruit juice of *A. marmelos* and can absorb moderate sugar and promote insulin sensitivity [40]. *A. marmelos* fruit extract shows multifunctional activity over diabetes, it is not only reduces the glucose level in blood and glycosylated hemoglobin but also simultaneously enhances the plasma insulin as well as glycogen in diabetic rats [121]. It has been reported that methanolic extracts of *A. marmelos* leaf reduce the level of glucose in blood of Wistar albino rats according to the doses applied; as it increases, the serum insulin and so the level of glucose automatically decrease [122, 123]. Insulin secretion can be affected by coumarin, which is present in *A. marmelos* fruit juice [124]. Both the ways of administration means oral and intraperitoneal exhibit hypoglycemic effect. The main mechanism of action of *A. marmelos* is improvement of insulin secretion or stimulation of glucose or both.

#### **8.12 Wound-healing activity**

Wound healing is a multistep process and involves different techniques such as contraction of collagen lattice production, cell proliferation, inflammation, etc. Pain is the

common symptoms of wound, and main key factor for wound healing is the discharge of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which helps in healing [125]. In an experiment, reports on the Wistar albino rats showed that methanolic *A. marmelos* seed extract ointment can recover the wound perfectly [126]. The functionality of *A. marmelos* on wound healing is like that of nitrofurazone drug [127]. Healing process is boosted when myeloperoxidase (MPO) level and free radicals touch the minimum level. On the other hand, if antioxidant activity increases, then the rate of healing mechanism is also increased. The phytochemicals present in *A. marmelos* are very much effective for wound healing because they can increase the antioxidant activity [24].

## **8.13 Immunomodulatory effect**

*A. marmelos* can improve the immunity upto a particular stage depending on the situation. It has been observed that after oral administration of different doses of *A. marmelos,* both the neutrophil adhesion and phytogenic index are increased. Bovine pasteurella multocida can reduce the mortality rate in mice at both low and high doses. Administrations of lower doses are much more effective than higher doses [128]. Another study on fish reported that survival chances are more with *A. marmelos* leaf administration [129]. Bael can increase enzyme activity, RBC count, and WBC count, which can lead to a healthy system; as a result, immunity is increased.

### **8.14 Nephroprotective activity**

*A. marmelos* leaf extract shows its nephroprotective function. Nephrotoxicity is mainly observed due to the enhancement of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and MDA level. The study of gentamicin nephrotoxicity reported that *A. marmelos* leaf extract can dominantly reduce the enhanced level of MDA, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine [130]. The cisplatin-promoted nephrotoxicity can also be protected by *A. marmelos* leaf extract [131].

#### **8.15 Antiasthmatic activity**

In phelgm and asthma, decoction of *A. marmelos* leaf can reduce these effectively. Guinea pig ileum study reveals that antagonistic effect can be shown by tracheal chain on contraction produced by histamine [132, 133]. Histamine release from mast cells can be prevented by aegeline situated in *A. marmelos* leaf [134]. Histamine release is the main reason for asthma and phelgm. *A. marmelos* leaves effectively reduce the release of histamine; that is why it is very helpful for controlling asthma.

#### **8.16 Antithyroid activity**

*A. marmelos* leaf extract can reduce the enhanced level of thyroid hormones in serum. This function of *A. marmelos* leaf is due to the presence of scopoletin in it, which is actually responsible for the reduction of thyroid hormones in serum. The activity of Scopoletin is as close to the activity of Propylthiouracil [135]. The dose is experimented on thyroxine-treated animals and found that Scopoletin 1 mg /Kg for seven days is most effective.
