Therapeutic Potential and Multifaceted Benefits of Piper Betle Linn: A Comprehensive Review

A plant in the Piperaceae family, the piper betle, has over 700 species found worldwide (Rabiatul Umar et al,2018). The plant leaves are basic long stalked, and have an acuminated crown (Depi Sakinah et al,2020). Piper betle is a deep green in Color and heart shaped plant native to India (Depi Sakinah et al,2020). The Piper betle Linn is known as Paan leaves and is consumed by 15-20 million people in India (Aishwarya et al,2016). The plant prefers a warm and humid climate and has dense male spikes and pendulums. The plant has various names in different language including paan, Tanbol, Bulung Samat, Vettila, Vettilakkoti, Plu, Maluu, Plue, Vetrilai, burg-e-tanbol, Daun sirih, Papulu and trau (Saikat Mazumder et al,2016). They are found in hot and moist climates and are produced in various regions, including Bihar, South India. It is best grown in moderate moist soil, with light irrigation and proper drainage. They are classified into odorous and non-pungent type based on their form, length and flavour. Venmony, Mysore, Salem, Calcutta, Banarsi, Kauri, Ghanagete, Bagerhati, and Magadhi are some of the well-known Indian types (Sunil Shah et al,2016). The best betle leaf is the ‘Magadhi’ variety grown near Patna in Bihar (Sunil Shah et al,2016). They contain bioactive compounds including minerals, vitamins, enzymes, proteins and essential oil. It is utilized in many facets of human existence, such as social, cultural, and religious facets. Other foods include fruit pulp, clove cardamom, coriander, anise, areca nut, slaked lime, and fruit (Maira Afridi et al, 2021). The leaves of Piper betle Linn are regarded auspicious in ancient times and have been utilized for ages in Indian traditional medicine. In the Indian subcontinent, medicinal plants are a valuable resource, providing primary medicine for rural communities in emerging nations. Due to their use as intermediates for synthetic medications or as model compounds for lengthy drug manufacturing, substances produced from plants have attracted a lot of attention. These leaves are also useful for treating brain, liver, and cardiac disorders. It is used for Various producing products. Egenol, hydroxychavicol, and chavibetol have various pharmacological properties (N I Azahar et al,2020). The plant is subjected to various extraction processes including Soxhlet, Sonication. etc. Its leaf extraction has potential for treating toxoplasmosis, treating wounds and cuts, aiding, lucorrhea (Anjali Soni et al,2013). Plant-based medications are defined by the World Health Organization as herbal preparations made through extraction, fractionation, purification, concentration, and other physical or biological procedures (Nagy Morsy et al, 2014).

Image no 1: Piper betle Linn Plant

Chemical composition:

Piper betle linn is a highly researched plant with a variety of biologically active compounds (Rabiatul Umar et al,2018). The leaves contain water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibres, essential oil and tannins. In addition, they include minerals and vitamins such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron iodine, carotene, thiamine, nicotinic acid, riboflavin, vitamin C, and amino acids (Rabiatul Umar et al, 2018). Together with additional substances including allypyrocatechol diacetate, camphene, eugenol, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-limonene, 1,8-cineole, and allypyrocatechol monoacetate, the essential oil extracted from the leaves contains chavibetal (53.1%) and chavibetal acetate (15.5%) (Sunil Shah et al, 2016). Piper betle's hexane fraction contains four pure aliphatic chemicals, such as alipyrocetechol and chromanol. It also contains important antioxidants and can prevent gastrointestinal ulcers caused by using indomethacin. The primary component of betle leaf that has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties is eugenol (V.P.B. Rekha et al, 2014).

Table no.1: Chemical components of piper betle Linn (V.P.B. Rekha et al,2014) :(Sunil Shah et al,2016).

Nutritional components:

The macro and micro nutrients are listed in table were found in the proximate analysis of Piper betle leaves (P. Guha,2006)

Piper betle contain various biologically active compounds with concentration varying based on variety of Plants, season and climate (Aishwarya et al, 2016). The alcoholic extract of betle vine was analyzed for phytochemicals, revealing various pharmacological activities (Sahu et al, 2022) The extracts, prepared using various solvents, contained flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, cadiac glucosides anthra quinones, glycosides and reducing sugars (Depi sakinah et al, 2020)

Insecticidal activity

The roots of Piper betle were liable to methanolis solvent extraction for the separation of various bioactive constituents. (Sindhu S Nair et al,2017). In this activity Extract was studied against Tribolium castaneum, adult Brunches pisorum, Sitophilus oryzae by direct contact application method (Sindhu S Nair et al, 2017). The piper essential oil Exhibists insecticidal properties against storage insect pests like bean weevil, corn weevil and lesser grain borer, suppressing progenie production and egg developmentand potentially acting as a grain protectant (AK Sahu et al,2022).It has been discovered that betle vine essential oil can be used as an alternative bioinsecticide (AK Sahu et al,2022)

Anti-oxidant activity

Substances known as antioxidants have the ability to counteract free radicals, which are unstable chemicals that harm cells. Oxidants cause various health issues like cancer (Chandra Risdian et al, 2011). the ethanolic leaf extract of Piper betle Linn's capacity to scavenge free radicals (Chandra Risdian et al, 2011). Solution in stock DPPH and 1 milliliter of plant extract (different concentrations, such as 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 ug/ml) are present.  Ascorbic Acid Used in positive Control or standard (Devjani Chakraborty et al, 2011). Allow the reaction mixture to incubate for 30 minutes at 37°C under dark conditions. After the incubation period, absorbance at 530 nm. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity percentage can be determined using the subsequent equation (KY pin et al, 2010).

Anti-inflammatory effects assessed via Protein Denaturation Assay

Inflammation is the response seen after cellular damage leading to the development of an exudate rich in proteins. Innate immunity is a component of this process, which manifests as discomfort, heat, redness, swelling, and reduced function (Rintup D et al, 2015). protein denaturation is the process of causing a protein's secondary and tertiary structures to unfurl and be disrupted without causing peptide bonds to break or hydrolyze (Pushal De et al. (2017). the reaction mixture contains 0.4ml of egg albumin and 5.6ml of 6.9 PH PBS (phosphate buffer saline). further add 1ml of various concentration of plant extract and standard Diclofenac Sodium. Allow the reaction mixture to sit for 5 minutes at room temperature, then heat it to 70°C for 15 minutes. Once the incubation is complete, let the mixture cool down and determine its absorbance at 530 nm.

Antibiofilm assay

It Involves The ability to inhibit the formation and stability of Bacterial Biofilm. this is typically Done by Exposing biofilm structure, biofilm viability, Common methods Include crystal violet staining, Microscopy and Quantification of biofilm Associated factors. The experimental setup consists of combining 2ml of nutrient broth, 10 µl of bacterial suspension, and 50 µl of varying concentrations of plant extract and Standard Streptomycin in sterile conditions. This mixture is subsequently incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. The following day, remove the reaction mixture and add 1ml of 0.1% Crystal violet Stain. Allow the mixture to incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes. Subsequently, discard the stain and introduce 70% ethanol. Measure the absorbance at 560 mm.

Antifungal assay

The widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and immunosuppressive treatments has led to a significant clinical problem: fungal infections. Candida stands out as the most prevalent among all fungal species (Rattiporn et al, 2018). To prepare Sabouraud dextrose agar media, combine the necessary components and sterilize in a 121°C autoclave for 15 minutes. Subsequently, pour the media into petri plates according to the required well sizes. Spread 100 µl of bacterial suspension evenly across the growth medium. Create 6 mm diameter wells using a cork borer. Add the standard to the designated well. For 24 hours, place the plates in an incubator set at 37°C.Following successful incubation, examine and measure the zone of inhibition.

Antibacterial assay

Antibacterial is a suppresses their bacterial growth using the well diffusion Method involves introducing antibacterial Substances into wells on an agar plate (K. Kabesh et al, 2015). Prepare the nutrient agar media by using media Components. Sterilize the prepared growth media in an autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes. Distribute the media into petri dishes according to the required well sizes. Spread 100 µl of bacterial suspension evenly across the growth medium. Use a cork borer to drill wells that are 6 mm in diameter. Introduce the standard streptomycin and test sample into their respective wells. For 24 hours, place the plate in an incubator set to 37°C. After the successful incubation Observe and Measured the zone of Inhibition.

Antihelminthic assay

Parasitic worms & infect crops, domestic pets and livestock and affecting food production with an economic impact (sonalkar et al, 2017). Antihelminthic assay involves evaluating Substances with for their ability to inhibit or kill parasitic helmintics. This is typically done by exposing helminthics to the test Substance and assessing parameters such of motility, viability or Structural integrity, aiming to identify Compounds with Antihelmintic properties for the treatment of parasitic worm infections. Take two petri dishes with lids and label it has Standard and test. Wash the earthworms with the help of Distilled water takes Earthworm each plate. Pour the 20 ml of Standard and sample in respective petri plate. Using a stopwatch, record the duration of paralysis and the time of death for each earthworm.

Anti-fertility activity

Female albino rats administered 100 mg/kg of Piper betle Petiole's ethanolic extract shown antiestrogenic properties. Serum glucose concentration, fertility, litter number, estrogen levels, reproductive organ weights, and enzyme activity were all decreased, although ascorbic acid and cholesterol levels were raised (Sunil Shah et al, 2016). A study on male contraceptive agents using Piper betle leaf stalk extract in mice showed no toxicity and reversible fertility after treatment withdrawal (Aishwarya et al, 2016).

Anticancer activity

According to the study, the aqueous extract of piper betle leaves demonstrated strong cytotoxicity and possible anticancer effects, with a CTC50 of 96.25 ug/ml (Sunil Shah et al, 2016: Aishwarya et al, 2016).

Antiulcerogenic activity

Rats given an ethanolic extract of Piper betel Linn leaf orally had a strong protective effect against indomethacin-induced stomach lesions. Additionally, the extract demonstrated scavenging activity against superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals. Its antioxidant component, allyl pyrocatechol, also protected against indomethacin-induced stomach ulceration (Aishwarya et al, 2016).