Betel leaf, phytochemical components, anti-malarial activity, anti-asthmatic activity, hypoglycemic activity and hypolipidemic activity

Description :   Betel leaf is a green coloured heart shaped leaf, belongs to Piperaceae family. It is very popular

Article Details    :

Betel leaf is a green coloured heart shaped leaf, belongs to Piperaceae family. It is very popular for its aromatic flavor and extensively used as mouth freshener. It also offers numerous health benefits.

Nutritional profile

• It contains large amount of moistures about 85%
• It contains very less amount of carbohydrate
• It contains crude fibre as well
• It also contains too some extent of protein
• It contains very negligible amount of fat
• It also contains essential oil
• It contains several vitamins like Vitamin A, vitamin C and B vitamins, especially Vitamin B1, B2 and B3
• It also contains various important trace elements, which include potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and iodine
• It contains chlorophyll as well, which is accountable for providing a green colour to it
• It is packed with various important biochemical substances generally termed as phytochemicals, which exert nutraceutical activities and these compounds include chavicol, eugenol, tannin, allylpyrocatechol, β-caryophyllene, diastases and 4-hydroxycatechol  

Biological property

Antioxidant activity

• It shows potent antioxidant activity and helps to reduce oxidative stress. Its phytochemical components are considered as the main antioxidant components
• It is associated with decreasing the level of free radicals in body by scavenging them and protects the body from its harmful effects

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• Chewing of betel leaf (alone, without tobacco) is related with reducing the prevalence of cancers as it has strong anti-mutagenic as well as anti-proliferative property
• It helps to suppress the growth of malignant cells as well as tumor cells in body by regulating malignant cell proliferation and also prevents metastasis

Antimicrobial activity

• Phenolic acid, phytochemicals and essential oil components of betel leaf are responsible for exerting antimicrobial activity, which helps to hinder the growth and reproduction of microbes within host
• It has seen that it significantly shows strong antibacterial activity against pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Anti-malarial activity

• Betel leaf has been used for centuries as an effective remedial action for malaria
• Terpenes components of betel leaf is responsible for exerting anti-malarial activity
• Its flavonoid components are also responsible for exerting anti-parasitic activity against various strains of malaria parasite 

Anti-asthmatic activity

• It has been extensively used for treating asthma. Its antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory activities are accountable for preventing this respiratory disorder
• Histamine is considered as one of the most vital cause of asthma as it is related with increasing vasoconstriction of air way due to tightening of smooth muscle. Betel leaf also exerts anti-histaminic activity hence associated with decreasing histamine concentration in body thus reduces the prevalence of vasoconstriction hence improves the symptoms of asthma

Health benefits

Role on preventing diabetes mellitus

• Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar concentration. It should be controlled properly otherwise it may cause severe damage of kidney, eyes and heart
• Proper dietary intake and nutritional support along with medicines play effective role in regulating blood sugar level. Tough anti-diabetic medicines have various side effects but it has seen that consumption of food, which has anti-diabetic effect, does not show any side effects. Betel leaf is considered as a low glycemic food stuff that exerts anti-diabetic effects
• It is very useful for reducing blood sugar concentration as it is associated with increasing insulin sensitivity and its antioxidant effect also helps to reduce the prevalence of diabetes mellitus by inhibiting oxidative stress
• It has seen that consumption of dried betel leaf powder is extremely effective for decreasing the concentration of glucose in blood

Role on regulating cholesterol level

• Eugenol component of betel leaf is responsible for decreasing the concentration of cholesterol in blood thus its consumption is very effective for reducing the harmful consequences of hypercholesterolemia such as cardiovascular diseases, gall stones, hepatic malfunctioning, obesity etc
• It also helps to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol that ultimately related with decreasing elevated cholesterol level as body utilizes stored cholesterol for its function
• It helps to decrease the concentration of LDL, VLDL and triglyceride in blood as well, which helps to prevent plaque formation within blood vessels by inhibiting fat accumulation thus decreases the    Read more