The increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria has intensified the search for novel plant-derived therapeutic agents with enhanced biological efficacy. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa, commonly known as Bael, is an ethnomedicinal plant recognized for its diverse pharmacological properties attributed to its rich phytochemical composition. The present investigation was designed to comparatively evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial potential of leaf, flower, stem, and immature fruit extracts of Aegle marmelos against pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. Fresh plant materials were collected, shade dried, pulverized, and subjected to solvent extraction using standard extraction procedures. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out to detect the presence of biologically active secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides. The antibacterial efficacy of the extracts was assessed by the agar well diffusion technique, and the inhibitory activity was determined by measuring the zone of inhibition against E. coli cultures. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated the abundant occurrence of multiple bioactive compounds in all tested plant parts, with leaf and immature fruit extracts exhibiting comparatively higher phytochemical diversity and concentration. The antibacterial assay revealed concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against E. coli. Among the evaluated extracts, leaf and immature fruit extracts showed comparatively stronger antibacterial effects, suggesting a possible correlation between phytochemical richness and antimicrobial efficacy. The observed antibacterial activity may be associated with the synergistic interaction of phenolic and flavonoid constituents known to interfere with bacterial cell wall integrity and metabolic pathways. The findings of the present study highlight the therapeutic significance of Aegle marmelos as a promising natural source of antibacterial agents. These results support its potential application in the development of eco-friendly phytopharmaceutical formulations for the management of bacterial infections. Further purification, characterization, and mechanistic studies of the active compounds are warranted to explore their clinical and pharmaceutical relevance.
Dr. Divya Acharya* (Mon,) studied this question.