Phytochemicals and antioxidant properties of bael (Aegle marmelos L.) pulp powder and its products

Abstract

Aegle marmelos, a fruit often known as Bael in South Asia, is a useful medicinal plant due to its high concentration of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity. It is an attractive color, pleasant flavor, and sweet taste that can be consumed raw or in the form of various formulations. This research aimed to quantify the phytochemicals and antioxidant activities of Bael powder and its product. Bael fruits were divided into three groups: Sample I (pulp, seed, and gum), Sample II (pulp and gum), and Sample III (pulp). These samples were dried to produce fine powder and Jam I (pulp) and Jam II (pulp with lemon juice) were prepared from Sample III. The phytochemical analysis was conducted using methanol and ethanol extracts, revealing that methanolic extracts contained significantly higher amounts of total phenol, flavonoid, and tannin compared to ethanolic extracts, except for antioxidant activities. Sample III exhibited higher phenol and flavonoid quantities for both extracts, while Jam II showed higher flavonoid content. The maximum ABTS scavenging activity was observed in Sample II and Jam II for both methanolic and ethanolic extracts. Total sugar was found at the highest amount in sample I and jam II. Jam I sample was preferred by the panelist. These findings underscore Bael powder as a rich source of bioactive compounds, potentially addressing malnutrition and hidden hunger.