Abstract
This study investigates the formulation and optimization of effervescent tablets made from freeze-dried bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit pulp, focusing on selecting appropriate excipients to enhance stability and ensure the effective release of its bioactive compounds for health benefits. The formulations-S(0) (100 % fruit pulp), S(1) (20 % citric acid), S(2) (10 % citric acid and 10 % ascorbic acid), and S(3) (20 % ascorbic acid) combined with equal parts of dried bael pulp, sodium bicarbonate, sugar, polyethylene glycol, and stevia were assessed for their physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and sensory study. The S(1) demonstrated the fastest dissolution time (189 s), along with the lowest bulk density (0.488 ± 0.001 g/mL), tapped density (0.525 ± 0.001 g/mL), Hausner ratio (1.104 ± 0.114), and Cohesiveness index (0.075 ± 0.002), indicating better physicochemical properties. Among the formulations, the S(3) showed the highest vitamin C (788 ± 0.05 μM AAE/g DM), total phenolic content (1289.17 μg GAE/g of DM), and total carotenoid content (19.3 ± 1.37 μM β-carotene E/g DM). The antioxidant and antidiabetic activity ranked: S(2) ≈ S(3)>S(1)>S(0). The presence of polyphenolic compounds in the bael fruit pulp was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. According to the sensory study, S(1) stands out for its superior color, flavor, and satisfactory overall sensory experience; it exhibited a strong positive correlation with PC1, and highlights the critical sensory attributes influencing consumer perception. Therefore, these findings suggest that bael fruit-based effervescent tablets offer promising potential as a ready-to-drink product with beneficial health properties.