ISSN: 2694-1708 DOI: 10.33552/ICBC.2021.01.000521 Insights in Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Article Copyright © All rights are reserved by Pradip Debnath Chemistry behind the Betel Leaves and Betel Quid: Their Health Benefits and Adverse Health Effect-a Review Moumita Nath1 and Pradip Debnath2* 1Department of Forestry and Biodiversity, Tripura University, India 2Department of Chemistry, Maharaja Bir Bikram College, India *Corresponding author: Dr. Pradip Debnath, Department of Chemistry, Maharaja Received Date: June 11, 2021 Bir Bikram College, Agartala, Tripura 799004, India Published Date: July 16, 2021 Abstract Piper betle leaves have been used in Indian and Chinese folk medicine for centuries and is well known for its extensive use in Ayurvedic medicine. Recently, it has been used as a chemo-preventive agent because of its anti-oxidant activity. Several biologically active compounds from P. betle have potential for use as medicines, neutraceuticals and industrial compounds. Consumption of betel leaf is usually in the form of betel quid which consists of areca nut, lime and some spices with or without tobacco. Long term consumption of betel quid with tobacco is known to cause adverse health effects, mainly carcinomas. In addition to oral cancer it is also known to induce chromosomal aberrations and tumours in the pharynx and properties. Phenol-rich leaves of P. betle show high antioxidant activities and because of its anti-oxidant properties, it has been used as a chemo- preventiveoesophagus. agent. However, Its oil consumption is used as an of industrial betel leaf rawalone material does not for induce manufacturing cancer and of hasmedicines, invaluable perfumes, health benefits mouth fresheners, due to its tremendous tonics, food medicinal additives etc. The leaves are nutritive and contain anti-carcinogens showing promise for manufacturing of a blood cancer drug. It is also playing a vital role in various ceremonies and auspicious occasions as an indicator of goodness. Since the traditional use of P. betle involves chewing, it offers possibilities of use in drug delivery through buccal mucosa bypassing the gastric route. Keywords: Betel leaves; Betel quid; Chemical composition; Medicinal properties; Health benefits and Adverse health effect Introduction and is known to possess numerous medicinal properties. Piper be- Medicinal plants are of proven value as potential therapeutics tle is a plant with known ethno-medicinal properties and its use in with the increase of resistant pathogens to commonly used anti- India, Indonesia and other countries of the Indo-China region like biotics and the emergence of new infectious diseases. Human de- Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, Thailand, Myanmar, Singa- pendence on plants as source of medicine dates back to prehistoric pore, and Bangladesh is well known. It is a mild stimulant and has times. Even now, more than three-fourths of the world’s population a lot of medicinal properties. Betel leaves have been used in Indi- relies mainly on plants and plant extracts for healthcare. Piper betle an and Chinese folk medicine for centuries and is also well known L. is one of the important plants in the Asiatic region which ranks for its extensive use in Ayurvedic medicine. Use of betel leaves are second to coffee and tea in terms of daily consumption. Piper betle known for its curative properties such as: to reduce/prevent body L., is an evergreen perennial creeper belonging to family Piperaceae This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License ICBC.MS.ID.000521. Page 1 of 9 Insights in Chemistry and Biochemistry Volume 1-Issue 5 odour and bad breath, throat and lung problems, cough preven- constantly moist soil, but there should not be excessive moisture. In tion and healing, to prevent itching caused by fungus and internal/ 3 to 6 months the vines reach 150 to 180 centimetres in height and - they will branch. The harvested leaves are used both for domes- pounds are found to exhibit several biological activities including tic consumption and for export to other parts of Asia, the Middle external bacteria [1]. The leaf extract, fractions and purified com - East, Europe, and the United States. Betel is an important part of the ti-ulcer, anti-cancer, hepato-protective, and anti-infective etc [2,3]. economy in rural India as well as Bangladesh. oral hygiene, anti-diabetic, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, an Many patents were also awarded for some of the biological activ- Consumption of Betel Leaf - Betel leaf is mostly consumed in Asia and elsewhere in the world ities like anti-inflammatory, [4] anti-cancer [5] and immunomod The betel leaves are also credited with wound healing, digestive, by some Asian emigrants, as betel quid or paan, with or without to- ulatory [6] associated with leaf extracts and purified compounds. and pancreatic lipase stimulant activities in the traditional medi- bacco. It has an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-induc- cine [7]. The active compounds isolated from leaf and other parts ing formulation with adverse health effects. The deep green heart are hydroxychavicol, hydroxylchavicol acetate, allylpyrocatechol, shaped leaves of betel vine are popularly known as Paan in India. chavibetol, piperbetol, methylpiperbetol, piperol A and piperol B. An extensive research monograph by the World Health Organiza- Phenol-rich leaves of P. betle show high antioxidant activities. The tion in 2004 reports that betel leaf is consumed in South East Asian Essential oil isolated from the leaves is supposed to be useful in community worldwide, predominantly as a betel quid or paan. The treating respiratory catarrhs and as an anti-septic [8]. Its leaves, betel quid contains betel leaf, areca nut and slaked lime, and may contain tobacoo. Other substances are often added to the betel quid, as mouth freshener. On the other hand, consumption of betel quid in particular spices, such as cardamom, saffron, cloves, aniseed, tur- with strong pungent and aromatic flavour, are widely consumed with tobacco poses serious health hazard. Long term consumption meric, mustard or sweeteners according to local preferences. The of betel quid with tobacco is known to cause adverse health effects, betel quid is thus a mixture of substances and betel leaf is not con- mainly carcinomas. In addition to oral cancer it is also known to sumed alone. For a predominant majority, the paan usually contains induce chromosomal aberrations and tumours in the pharynx and the betel leaf with two basic ingredients, either tobacco, or areca oesophagus. Betel leaf is the most valuable home remedy for com- nut or both, in row or any processed form. There is archaeologi- mon illness. Since the traditional use of P. betle involves chewing, it cal evidence that the betel leaves have been chewed along with the offers possibilities of use in drug delivery through buccal mucosa areca nut since very ancient times. In most countries the mixture of bypassing the gastric route. This review presents a systematic over- both has a ceremonial and highly symbolic value. In India, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other part of South Asia and Southeast Asia, health effect of betel quid. the leaves are chewed together in a wrapped package along with view on chemical compositions, health benefits of betel leaf and the the areca nut which, by association, is often inaccurately called the Cultivation of Betel Leaf ‘betel nut’ and mineral slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). The lime Betel leaf is widely grown in the tropical humid climate of South acts to keep the active ingredient in its freebase or alkaline form, East Asia and thus, cultivated in most of South and Southeast Asia. thus enabling it to enter the bloodstream via sublingual absorption. In India, it is widely cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West The areca nut contains the alkaloid arecoline, which promotes sal- Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Leaves 10-20 cm ivation, and is itself a stimulant. In India, the betel and areca play long, broadly ovate, slightly cordate and often unequal at the base, an important role in Indian culture, especially among Hindus. Many shortly acuminate, glabrous, glaucous on both sides, bright green traditional ceremonies governing the lives of Hindus use betel and and yellowish, petiole stout 2.0-2.5 cm long. Male spikes cylindrical areca. Moreover, offering betel morsel (pan-supari) to guests in In- dense. Female spikes 2.5-5.0 cm long, pendulous. Fruits rarely pro- dian subcontinent is a common courtesy. The betel and areca also play an important role in Vietnamese culture. The betel leaves and [9]. For the proper growth of betel requires high land and especially areca nuts are used ceremonially in traditional Indian and Vietnam- duced, often sunk in the fleshy spike, forming nodule-like structures fertile soil; waterlogged, saline and alkaline soils are not suitable ese weddings. The lime must be purchased and processed from cor- for its cultivation. Proper shade and irrigation are essential for the als, especially the fast-growing stag horn corals of genus Acropora. successful cultivation of this crop. In Bangladesh, farmers called Ba- Chewing betel quid to give fragrance to mouth. rui prepare a garden called a Barouj in which betel is grown. The Composition Barouj is fenced with bamboo sticks and coconut leaves. The soil width and 75 centimetres depth. The creeper cuttings are planted the presence of volatile oil consisting of phenols and terpenes etc. is flowed into furrows of 10 to 15 meters length, 75 centimetres in The specific spicy burning taste of betel leaf is derived from after proper dressing in the months of May and June at the begin- The taste and aroma depends on the presence and proportion of ning of the monsoon season. The leaves of the plant become ready the various components in the oil which are vary markedly among for plucking after one year of growth and the production of the Ba- the cultivars and makes them differ in aroma and taste.