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Bilwa Patra

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (leaves)

Bilwa Patra (Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (leaves)) is a plant drug, also called Bilvah, Bilvam and Bela, from the Rutaceae family. Referenced in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; listed in Indian Pharmacopoeia; Bilwa Patra is one of the most commonly prescribed single herbs in Ayurvedic formulary.

Key facts
Botanical nameAegle marmelos (L.) Correa (leaves)
FamilyRutaceae · other entries in this family
OrderSapindales
Also known asAegle marmelos (L.) Correa (leaves), Bilwa Patra, BilwaPatra
Pharmacopoeia statusReferenced in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; listed in Indian Pharmacopoeia; Bilwa Patra is one of the most commonly prescribed single herbs in Ayurvedic formulary
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5421195 · Wikidata Q234126 · NCBI Taxonomy 68527
Names in other languages
Sanskritबिल्वः (bilvaḥ), बिल्वम् (bilvam)
Hindiबेल (bela), बेलपत्र (belapatra), बिल्व (bilva), श्री फल (śrī phala)
Tamilவில்வம்

Sources: Apte s.v. Vilva/Bilva: '-lvam 1 The fruit of this tree', quoting Bhāvaprakāśa बिल्वं बालं कषायोष्णं…; Apte s.v. Vilva/Bilva: 'A species of tree, Aegle Marmelos or wood-apple; its leaves are used in the worship of Śiva… Derivable forms: bilvaḥ (बिल्वः)'; wisdomlib Ayurveda glossary, Bilva = Aegle marmelos (Caraka-saṃhitā sūtrasthāna 27).; Apte: 'Śrīphala (श्रीफल).—the Bilva tree. (-lam) the Bilva fruit'; Śabda-Sāgara: 'A fruit tree, (Ægle marmelos)'.; DDSA A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary (via wisdomlib), s.v. बेल: '-[patra] leaves of wood-apple'; s.v. विल्व: '~[patra] leaves of the wood apple tree'.; DDSA A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary: 'Bela (बेल) [Also spelled bel]:—(nm) wood-apple— Aegle marmelos; -[patra] leaves of wood-apple'.; DDSA A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary: 'Bilva (बिल्व):—(nm) the wood-apple— Aegle marmelos'; same entry under Vilva: '~[patra] leaves of the wood apple tree'.; DDSA: University of Madras Tamil Lexicon, Vilvam (வில்வம்) = 'Bael, medium tree Aegle marmelos'; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs', Vilvam (Tamil) = Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2020 to 2025, every one with a DOI.

  • 12Other clinical studies and reviews

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishBilwa Patra
Latin/BotanicalAegle marmelos (L.) Correa (leaves)

Key Phytochemical Constituents

How does it work?

  • Aegeline activates PPAR-gamma receptors in adipose and muscle tissue, enhancing insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake, providing the mechanistic basis for hypoglycemic activity
  • Skimmianine and marmesin exhibit antimicrobial activity through inhibition of bacterial DNA gyrase and disruption of fungal ergosterol biosynthesis
  • Leaf essential oils (eugenol, cineole) provide anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of COX-2 and LOX enzymes and suppression of NF-kB nuclear translocation

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Bael leaves are traditionally used for Prameha (diabetes) in Ayurveda. In vivo studies have reported hypoglycemic/antidiabetic activity, and limited clinical studies have reported similar activity.
  • Leaf paste and decoction are traditionally used for infectious diseases. In vitro studies have reported antimicrobial and anti-infective activity against several pathogens.
  • Traditionally used for Shotha (inflammation) and pain conditions. Animal studies using carrageenan-induced paw edema models have reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • Leaf preparations have a long history of traditional use; an in vitro study (2024) reported minimal cytotoxicity on gingival fibroblasts at low concentrations
  • Aegeline was flagged by FDA in 2013 regarding certain commercial supplements (OxyElite Pro), though this involved synthetic/concentrated forms rather than traditional leaf preparations
  • Leaf decoctions and infusions are traditionally used at standard Ayurvedic doses; avoid high-dose concentrated extracts during pregnancy

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (leaf powder), Swarasa (fresh leaf juice), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Taila (leaf-infused oil)

Standard Dosage: 3-5g leaf powder twice daily; 10-20ml fresh juice; 50-100ml decoction; 500mg extract capsule twice daily

Optimal Timing: Morning on empty stomach for diabetic support; before meals with honey for respiratory conditions; fresh juice early morning

Storage: Leaf powder in airtight, light-protected containers. Fresh juice refrigerated. Essential oil in amber glass. Protect from UV light due to furanocoumarins.

Marker Compounds: Skimmianine, Aegeline, Marmesin, Imperatorin, Limonene, Alpha-phellandrene, Eugenol, Cineole, Rutin

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Tulsi leaves for respiratory and antipyretic formulations
  • With Neem leaves for antidiabetic synergy
  • With Guduchi for Jwara (fever) management
  • With Karela for blood sugar management

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews12

  1. Sharma A, Gugulothu D, Virmani T and others. 2025. Ethnopharmacological Profile, Phytochemistry and Therapeutic Potential of Aegle marmelos L. for the Treatment of Neurological DisordersJournal of nutrition and metabolism. PMID 40535825 · doi:10.1155/jnme/2275526
  2. Dwivedi J, Kumar P, Sachan P and others. 2025. Phyto-pharmacological Potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for Neurological Disorders: Progress and ProspectsRecent advances in food, nutrition & agriculture. PMID 38468524 · doi:10.2174/012772574X289517240222045916
  3. Pattanaik SK, Anil PM, Jena S and others. 2025. Interlinking diabetes and Alzheimer's disease: A pathway through medicinal plant-based treatmentsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 40484255 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.120092
  4. Sharma M, Bains A, Goksen G and others. 2024. Bioactive polysaccharides from Aegle marmelos fruit: Recent trends on extraction, bio-techno functionality, and food applicationsFood science & nutrition. PMID 38726405 · doi:10.1002/fsn3.4026
  5. Tiwari R, Mishra S, Chauhan A and others. 2024. The Dawn till Dusk of phytopharmaceuticalsSaudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society. PMID 39435370 · doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102185
  6. Monika S, Thirumal M, Kumar PR. 2023. Phytochemical and biological review of Aegle marmelos LinnFuture science OA. PMID 37026028 · doi:10.2144/fsoa-2022-0068
  7. Raghu SV, Rao S, Kini V and others. 2023. Fruits and their phytochemicals in mitigating the ill effects of ionizing radiation: review on the existing scientific evidence and way forwardFood & function. PMID 36688345 · doi:10.1039/d2fo01911f
  8. Sharma N, Radha, Kumar M and others. 2022. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa: An Underutilized Fruit with High Nutraceutical Values: A ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 36142805 · doi:10.3390/ijms231810889
  9. Kudva AK, Raghu SV, Rao S and others. 2022. Indian Indigenous Fruits as Radioprotective Agents: Past, Present and FutureAnti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry. PMID 34229590 · doi:10.2174/1871520621666210706124315
  10. Prabhakar P, Pavankumar GS, Raghu SV and others. 2022. Utility of Indian Fruits in Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Time to Undertake Translational and Bedside StudiesCurrent pharmaceutical design. PMID 35652402 · doi:10.2174/1381612828666220601151931
  11. Venthodika A, Chhikara N, Mann S and others. 2021. Bioactive compounds of Aegle marmelos L., medicinal values and its food applications: A critical reviewPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 33159390 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6934
  12. Ong HG, Kim YD. 2020. Medicinal plants for gastrointestinal diseases among the Kuki-Chin ethnolinguistic groups across Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar: A comparative and network analysis studyJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 31917280 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.112415

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.