**4. Traditional uses**

Extensive use of *A. marmelos* has been found in Ayurveda and traditional medicine system. In Ayurveda, the ripe fruit, which is acrid, bitter, and sweet, removes vatha and kapha, and it is good for the heart. Unani said that the ripe fruit is hot and dry; tonic, restorative, astringent, laxative; good for the heart and the brain; bad for the liver and chest [16, 18]. The unripe fruit is oily bitter, acrid, sour, tasty but difficult to digest, appetizer, binding cures dysentery, removes pain. The oil is hot and cures vatha. According to Siddha, *A. marmelos* has bitter, astringent taste, hot potency, pungent, bioavailability and reduces Vatha, Pitha, and Kapha dosha. The plant leaves can be used as an analgesic and antifungal agent [19]. Bael leaves are very useful for the treatment of asthma, hepatitis, hypogllcemia, and febrifuge. It has been also traditionally utilized for preparing medicinal mixes for numerous diseases or disorders. *A. marmelos* leaf powder may be used in the treatment of bowel syndrome [20]. It is used as a remedial measure in the treatment of beriberi [21]. *A. marmelos* leaf essential oil is reported to show various therapeutic actions [22]. The flower of *A. marmelos* has antiseptic properties and can be used as an astringent. In Thailand, the immature leaves and shoots of *A. marmelos* plant are consumed, whereas young leaves and shoots are consumed in Indonesia [23]. Flower is also used in epilepsy [24]. Marmala water, made from flower, is found helpful in catering conjunctivitis [25]. *A. marmelos* flower extract has been tested for wound-healing properties [24]. It is reported that mRNA expression has been

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

increased by inhibition of nitric oxide, the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thus increasing wound healing in rats [26]. The roots of *A. marmelos* have been used to cure dysentery, colitis, flatulence, and fever. So, in Chyavanprash, its roots are widely used [27]. In melancholia, heart palpitation, and intermittent fever, the decoction of root and bark is used [28–30]. Root bark may be used as a fish poison and fever treatment [31]. *A. marmelos* fruit extract is very helpful in thte treatment of thyroid. During pregnancy to prevent vomiting, it is found very helpful when it is taken with rice water in boiling conditions. In abscess curing, pulp powder of unripe fruit is very helpful to cure abscess [27]. On heating, sugar is produced from starch present in unripe fruit, then the fruit extract is added with hot water and anesi and strained, the extract found is useful in dysentery. Fruit pulp in milk mixed with sugar is very helpful in the treatment of urinogenital disorders [7, 21]. *A. marmelos* fruits may be used as an antiscorbutic and stomatic agent, and it may cure diseases such as intestinal ulcer, gonorrhea, chronic constipation, and indigestion [21]. Mustard oil and powdered fruit in the ratio 2:1 are used in southern Chattisgarh in burn treatment [1]. Ripe fruit juice extract helps to cure chronic gastrointestinal disorder, piles treatment, and rectum inflammation, alongwith it reduces blood sugar levels owing to its bitter flavor [32, 33]. There is a great advantage of *A. marmelos* and its various parts that it can be preserved only by drying means; there are no chemicals are used alongwith and no costs are there to preserve for long time; really this advantage is profitable for the production of its processed food and medicines. In Thailand, it has been observed that dried *A. marmelos* leaf and fruit pulp are packed in tea bags and preserved in syrup for the further use in traditional preparation of desserts such as cake, juice, squash, nectar, jam, syrup, etc. [34]. *A. marmelos* plant acts as air purifier by absorbing harmful poisonous gas from atmosphere, making it inert/neutral and thus removing poisonous property. This is not only helps to reduce pollution, but also it clears the toxic effects and provides a fresh and healthy environment. As compared with other plants, *A. marmelos* can release higher amount of O2 in the presence of sunlight, and plant is included in a category of "Fragrant" species because it can neutralize bad odors in air by deodorization process [32]. The unripe fruit yields yellow dye and is used for tanning calico and silk fabrics by textile industry [35]. This advantage is makes it more important and profitable for industry.
