ABSTRACT
Wood apple or, bael (Agle marmelos) is a plant of medicinal importance. Many studies have reported its anti-diabetic activity, healing activity, anti-carcinogenic activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Common people use it as a remedy of diarrhea and dysentery. This study had been carried out to evaluate the change in the proximate components (moisture content, ash content, protein, fat and carbohydrate), total phenolic content, total flavonoids content and antioxidant activities due to freeze drying of bael pulp. On the basis of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging ability and the ferric reducing ability (FRAP), antioxidant activity was measured. It was found that the change in proximate components (ash content, protein, and moisture content), total phenolic content, total flavonoids content and antioxidant activities were insignificant due to freeze drying. So, to preserve this medicinally rich bael fruit pulp in the form of powder, freeze drying or, lyophilization is an attractive dehydration method because it is capable of preserving nutritional quality and biological activity while extending the shelf life.
