Investigations on Piper Betle Grown in Sri Lanka

Pharmacognosy Review,2011,5,10,159-163.
Published:December 2011
Type:Review Articles
Authors:
Author(s) affiliations:

L.S.R Arambewela1, L.D.A.M Arawwawala1, KG Kumaratunga2, DS Dissanayake1, WD Ratnasooriya3, SP Kumarasingha4
1Industrial Technology Institute, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
2Food Control Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
3Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
4Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka (currently at Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
 

Abstract:

Piper betle is an economically important plant cultivated in Sri Lanka. Although more than 12 cultivars of betel are reported in Sri Lanka, very few scientific investigations have been carried out on them. Studies on the chemical constituents indicated that safrole is the major constituent, followed by chavibitol acetate, in the essential oil of common betel leaves of Sri Lanka. Investigations on the bioactivities of P. betle revealed the presence of antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antidiabetic and gastroprotective activities. In addition, P. betle was found to be safe in terms of hepatotoxicity, renotoxicity, hematotoxicity, gross morphology, weights of organs, stress or aversive behaviors in rats. The above findings indicate the vast potential of P. betle yet to be harnessed for the benefit of mankind and the betel industry of Sri Lanka.

Cite This Article

Vancouver Style ::
L. S. R. Arambewela, Arawwawala, L. D. A. M. , Kumaratunga, K. G. , Dissanayake, D. S. , Ratnasooriya, W. D. , and Kumarasingha, S. P. , Investigations on Piper Betle Grown in Sri Lanka, Pharmacognosy Review, vol. 5, no. 10, pp. 159-163, 2011.