Abstract:
The aim of this study was review the anti – diarrheal activity of Aegle marmelos. Siddha literatures
were obtained from the library of Unit of Siddha Medicine, University of Jaffna. Data was collected
from books and internet and tabulated for the analysis. Beal Fruit Tree (Aegle marmelos) (Tamil
name Vilvam, Kuvilam, Sinhala name Belli), belongs to the family of Rutaceae. It is the most
valuable medicinal plant in Siddha system of Medicine due to its various medicinal properties. It is
a small or medium sized deciduous tree. It has alternate leave arrangement, Its flowers are
greenish white, Fruit globose, grey or yellowish colour, Seeds Numerous. Found all over the Sri
Lanka. Fruit (both unripe & ripe), root – bark, leaves, rind of the ripe fruit & flowers are used in drug
preparations. Un-ripe fruit is astringent, digestive & stomachic & a little constipative. According to
Siddha, Aegle marmelos has bitter, astringent taste, hot potency, pungent bio availability and
reduce Vatha, Pitha and Kapha dosha. Diarrhoeal diseases are amongst the most common
infectious diseases worldwide resulting in 3.2% of all deaths killing about 1.8 million people globally
each year. It is quite evident from this review that Aegle marmelos is an important medicinal herb and extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha, unani and traditional medicine. Historically, Aegle
marmelos has been used for the number of ethonobotanical purposes. The collected information
suggests that Aegle marmelos has anti-diarrheal activity.
