Post Harvest Management and value addition in Bael (Aegle marmelos Corr.).

ABSTRACT

Abstract The bael fruit is known for its medicinal properties and is one of the most nutritious fruits. It contains 61.5 g of water, 1.8 g of protein, 1.7 g of minerals, 31.8 g of carbohydrates and 1.19 mg of riboflavin/100 g edible portion. Its food value is 88 calories/100gm. Thus, it is richer than most of the reputed fruits like apple, guava and mango which have a calorific value of only 64, 59 and 36 respectively. It may be noted that no other fruits has such a high content of riboflavin. They are useful in curing dyspepsia, dysentery, diarrhea, vitiated condition of vata, vomiting, cardiopalmus, stomachalgia, intermittent fever, seminal weakness, swelling, uropathy and gastric irritability in infants. The bark decoction for malaria and leaves are useful in opthalmia, deafness, and diabetes and asthmatic complaints. The flowers allay thirst vomiting. The unripe fruits are acrid, astringent, bitter, digestive, sour, stomachia and are useful in dysentery-diarrhea and stomachalgia. Bael fruit can be stored for 10-15 days at normal temperature, whereas fruit harvested at ripe stage can be stored for a week. After extractionof bael pulp used for the preparation of various fruit products viz., preserve, candy, jam, RTS, nectar squash/leather/slab, powder etc., which can be commercially exploited.