betel
Piper betle · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (716 studies) · ★★★★★
Betel, scientifically known as Piper betle, is a perennial vine celebrated in traditional medicine across Asia. Renowned for its potent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, its aromatic leaves are used to treat digestive issues, oral infections, and respiratory ailments, serving as a cornerstone in Ayurvedic and Unani healing practices.
Names
Common Names
- betel
- betel
- betel pepper
- betelvine
- Betel leaf
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Betelpfeffer
- Paan
- Betelpfeffer
- Betel-Pfeffer
French:
- bétel
- Betel
- Piper betel
- bétel
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Piper betleSynonyms
- Chavica siriboa
- Cubeba siriboa
- Macropiper potamogetonifolium
- Artanthe hexagyna
- Piper fenixii
- Piper siriboa
- Piper betle f. densum
- Piper densum
- Piper betle f. marianum
- Piper betle var. amplifolium
- Piper carnistilum
- Piper betle var. densum
- Piper malamiri
- Piper betle var. marianum
- Piper canaliculatum
- Piper malarayatense
- Cubeba melamiri
- Piper malamiris
- Piper betle var. siriboa
- Piper marianum
- Piper philippinense
- Piper bidentatum
- Piper pinguispicum
- Piper blancoi
- Piper potamogetonifolium
- Piper blumei
- Piper puberulinodum
- Piper anisodorum
- Chavica densa
- Chavica betle
- Chavica canaliculata
- Piper silletianum
- Chavica auriculata
- Chavica blumei
- Piper macgregorii
- Piper saururus
- Piper rubroglandulosum
- Piper bathicarpum
- Betela mastica
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Piperales and the family Piperaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Piper, specifically the species Piper betle.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Piperaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Piper | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it is notably found in Assam. Its presence also extends significantly across the Western Indian Ocean. Specifically, it can be located in the island nations of Comoros and Madagascar. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout Mauritius and Réunion.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Maldives | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as betel, is a climbing vine characterized by several distinct morphological features. The most significant medicinal component is the leaf, specifically the aromatic betel leaf, which is widely used in traditional medicine for its antiseptic and stimulant properties. While the leaves are the primary part utilized by humans, the plant also produces a specialized inflorescence that serves its reproductive function. Supporting the vine's growth are the woody stems, which allow the plant to climb through surrounding vegetation.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Archives of microbiology (and other 22 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| flower | Journal of biomedical science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Acta tropica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Piper betle has 109 reported phytochemicals identified across 25 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hydroxychavicol, eugenol, beta-carotene, Allylpyrocatechol, Arecaidine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Hydroxychavicol | 18 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| eugenol | 12 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| beta-carotene | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Allylpyrocatechol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Arecaidine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Chavibetol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Phenols | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| alpha-Tocopherol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| arecoline | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| water | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
Hydroxychavicol
- Archives of microbiology
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
- Chinese journal of integrative medicine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
View 13 additional sources
- La Clinica terapeutica
- Carcinogenesis
- Food & function
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
- IARC scientific publications
- Indian journal of experimental biology
- Nutrition and cancer
- Mutation research
- Mutagenesis
- Drug development and industrial pharmacy
- Biofouling
- Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B
- Journal of natural medicines
eugenol
- Dr. Duke
- Chinese journal of integrative medicine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
- Food chemistry
View 7 additional sources
- Indian journal of experimental biology
- Mutagenesis
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
- Biofouling
- Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
- Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B
- Journal of chromatography. A
beta-carotene
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Indian journal of experimental biology
- International journal of cancer
Allylpyrocatechol
- Chinese journal of integrative medicine
- La Clinica terapeutica
- Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
Arecaidine
- Dr. Duke
- Carcinogenesis
- Nutrition and cancer
Chavibetol
- La Clinica terapeutica
- Food chemistry
- Carcinogenesis
Phenols
- Biomedical chromatography : BMC
- Natural product communications
- Carcinogenesis
alpha-Tocopherol
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Indian journal of experimental biology
- International journal of cancer
arecoline
- Dr. Duke
- Carcinogenesis
- Nutrition and cancer
water
- Dr. Duke
- Proceedings of the National Science Council, Republic of China. Part B, Life sciences
- Experimental parasitology
Activities
Piper betle has 361 reported activities identified across 25 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antimutagenic, Anticancer, Antifungal.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 9 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 8 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| Antimutagenic | Dr. Duke (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Chinese journal of integrative medicine (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticarcinogenic | IARC scientific publications (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antigenotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiulcer | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Piper betle has 64 reported medicinal uses identified across 25 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oral cancer, Escherichia coli, cancer, Staphylococcus aureus, oral submucous fibrosis.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| oral cancer | Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology (and other 11 sources) | ★★★★★ |
| Escherichia coli | Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancer | MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates) (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| oral submucous fibrosis | Journal of dental research (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial diseases | Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bone cancer | Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | BMC complementary and alternative medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| halitosis | Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| ethanol extracts | Journal of traditional and complementary medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extract | Biofouling (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 70% acetone extract | Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude hydro-ethanolic extract (PB) | Acta tropica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude phenolic extracts of leaf and inflorescence | Mutation research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EOs | Galen medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| P. betle extract | Parasitology international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Piper betle leaf extract | Journal of natural medicines (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract of the leaves | Cancer letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betel leaf extract | Carcinogenesis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |