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| Piper betle |
Betel |
Piperaceae |
A green leafy
vine growing as a ground cover or small climber, very similar in
growth habits to pepper.
The betel leaf is used in a number of traditional remedies for the
treatment of stomach ailments, infections, and as a general tonic. It
is often chewed in combination with the betel nut (Areca catechu), as
a stimulatory. Some evidence suggests that betel leaves have immune
boosting properties as well as anti-cancer properties
The betel leaf plant is a branching vine, that may climb as high as
10-15ft, although it often grows as an understory ground cover. The
plant prefers warm, humid conditions, but can tolerate some drought.
Origin and Distribution:Native to India. |
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Country of Origin: India
Extraction Method: Steam distilled
Parts Used: The oil is steam distilled from the leaves |
The active ingredients of betel oil, which is obtained from the leaves,
are primarily a class of allylbenzene compounds. Though particular emphasis
has been placed on chavibetol (betel-phenol; 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyallylbenzene),
it also contains chavicol (p-allyl-phenol; 4-allyl-phenol), estragole (p-allyl-anisole;
4-methoxy-allylbenzene), eugenol (allylguaiacol;
4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-allylbenzene; 2-methoxy-4-allyl-phenol), methyl eugenol (eugenol
methyl ether; 3,4-dimethoxy-allylbenzene), and hydroxycatechol
(2,4-dihydroxy-allylbenzene).
Several terpenes and terpenoids are present in the betel oil as well. There
are two monoterpenes, p-cymene and terpinene, and two monoterpenoids,
eucalyptol and carvacrol. Additionally, there are two sesquiterpenes, cadinene
and caryophyllene. |
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