D. Vijay Anand Raju, V. Sandhya, M. Vineel Chandra, M. Muralidhar Reddy and Bolay Bhattacharya
Aegle marmelos (Linn) is a plant of the Rutaceae family, well known in India as bael/bilva leaves. This research explains about Aegle marmelos, which has widespread use in India due to its various medicinal properties. In the present study, evaluation of physicochemical characteristics; preliminary phytochemical parameters and pharmacological activites of ethanolic extract of dried leaves of Aegle marmelos Linn has been carried out. The preliminary phytochemical studies of the ethanolic extract of the leaves showed the presence of various phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. The aim of the present study was to carry out phytochemical screening and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory & antidiarrhoeal activity of ethanolic extract of Aegle marmelos. Extract was evaluated for antiinflammatory activity by using carrageenaninduced hind paw edema in albino rats and the mean increase in paw volume and % inhibition in paw volume were measured plethysmometrically at different time intervals after carrageenan (1% w/v) injection. Ethanolic extract of A. marmelos shows the presence of some flavonoids and terpenoids & used for the investigation of antidiarrhoeal activity by castor oil induced diarrhoea method. The ethanolic extract showed antiinflammatory and antidiarrhoeal effect in dose dependent manner when compared with the control and standard drug diclofenac sodium (10mg/kg, p.o). These inhibitions were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Thus our investigation suggests a potential benefit of Aegle marmelos in treating conditions associated with inflammatory pain.
