A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF BILVA (AEGLE MARMELOS) FROM CHIKITSASTHANA OF ASHTANG HRIDAYA

In Ayurveda, herbs and different combinations of herbal drugs are used for the treatment of various disorders. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa is one of the medicinal plants indigenous to India. It is mainly used for the treatment of diseases like dyspepsia, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, peptic ulcers etc. Crude extracts of this plant possess antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidaemic properties and also shows antispermatogenic activity. Bilva is one of the contents of Dashamoola (10 root drugs) and is widely available in market in different formulations such as Dashamoolakashaya, Dashamularishta, Dashamulakatutrayadi kashaya etc. Achraya Charak praised bilva by including it in Agryasangrahaniya. According to him Bilva is best amongst those having property to absorb fluid from gastro intestinal tract (Samgrahika), appetizers (Dipaniya) and pacifier of Vata-kapha dosha. Bilva fruit has great reputation in the treatment of diarrhoeas and dysenteries that it was made official in British Pharmacopoeia. So, the compilation of compounds of bilva fruit was done in the present review from Chikitasthana of Ashtang Hridaya.