Abstract
The edible fruit tissue of bael (Aegle marmelos Correa), a native species of India and a member of the Rutaceae, was analyzed for certain organic compounds and mineral content. Compared with orange and grapefruit taken as references, the bael fruit contained about three times more total soluble solids and at least 1.5 times more energy. The essential and non-essential amino acid contents of bael compared favourably with those in the citrus fruits. Aspartic acid constituted over 32% of the 17 amino acids analyzed. Of the 11 minerals studied, Fe was found to be 21 times more abundant in bael than in either of the reference fruits. Zn, Cl and Na concentrations were also higher in bael. The results of the present study demonstrate that bael is nutritious and could be an important source of dietary supplement.