SIREH (BETEL)

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom : Plantae
Order : Piperales
Family : Piperaceae
Genus : Piper
Species : P. betle

VERNACULAR NAME

Scientific name for betel leaf is Piper betle. In Malay language betel leaf is known as Daun sirih, Paan in Urdu language, Taambuul and Nagavalli in Sanskrit name, Vetrilai in Tamil language, Tamalapaku in Telugu language, Vidyache pan in Marathi language, Veeleya or Vilya in Kannada language, Vettila in Malayalam language, Plu in Mon language, Malus in Tetum language, Maluu in Khmer language, Malu in Tokodede language, Bulath in Sinhalese language, Bileiy in Divehi language, Bulung samat in Kapampangan language, Trau in Vietnamese language and Plue in Thai language.

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

Betel leaf is grown extensively in India. Malaysia is said to be country of origin. At one time it covered the Far East, India and went on to Madagascar and East Africa. In India, it is widely cultivated in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. There are many varieties of betel leaves and the best one is called magahi from the region of Magadh, which is in Bihar, India.

MORPHOLOGY

The betel plant is an evergreen and perennial creeper, slender, aromatic creeper, rooting at the nodes. The branches of this plant are swollen at the nodes. They have alternate, with heart-shaped leaves and white catkin, smooth, shining and long-stalked leaves, with pointed apex. It has five to seven ribs arising from the base, minute flowers and one-seeded spherical small berries.

ANATOMY

Betel is a dicotyledons plant. Piperaceae family mostly is herbaceous and some is shrubby forms. Some species such as P.betle are lianes climbing by adventitious roots. Its Vascular bundles scattered like those of the monocotyledons, but several more or distinct arrangements occur in the different genera and species. Its secretory cells usually oily content occur in both leaf and stem has been described by Lehmann. The secretory cells of the leaf sometimes appear as transparent and opaque dots. They have stomata that nearly confined to lower surface and often surrounded by a rosette of numerous epidermal cells, whilst other cruciferous.

CULTIVATION

High land and special fertile soil are best for betel. However, waterlogged, saline and alkali soils are unsuitable for its cultivation. Betel needs constantly moist soil, but there should not be excessive moisture .In India, betel garden is called barouj. Barouj is fenced with bamboo sticks and coconut leaves and on top it is also covered by paddy leaves. The land is dug well and laid out into furrows of 10-15 m length, 75 cm width and 75 cm depth. Proper shade and irrigation are essential for the successful cultivation. The leaves of this plant become ready for plucking after one year of planting.

COMPOSITION

Recent studies of betel leaves have shown that they contain tannins, sugar, diastases and an essential oil. This essential oil is a light yellow liquid of aromatic odour and sharp burning in taste. It contains a phenol called chavicol which has powerful antiseptic properties, whereas the alkaloid arakene in it has properties resembling cocaine in some respects.

ETHNOBOTANY ASPECT

Betel leaves are chewed together with betel nut (Areca catechu L.) since very ancient times. In most countries, the mixture of both has a ceremonial and highly symbolical value. In India, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other parts of South Asia, as well as Southeast Asia, the leaves are chewed together in a wrapped package along with the areca nut and mineral slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). The areca nut contains the alkaloid arecoline, which promotes the saliva is stained red, and is itself a stimulant. Tobacco is sometimes added.

, the betel and areca play an important role in Indian culture, especially among Hindus. Many traditional ceremonies of Hindus use betel and areca. For example to pay money to the priest, they keep money in the betel leaves and place it beside the priest. Betel leaf eating also has great significance in the wedding rituals of most provinces of India. Folded betel leaf containing lime, catechu, areca nut, cardamom are distributed at wedding parties. They make highly ornate bags for keeping areca nuts to be distributed to the guests at wedding parties. In Maharashtra province, there is a special wedding custom in which the bride holds a betel roll in her mouth half of which the bridegroom bites from the other end. Betel boxes also were commonly a part of the gifts to the bride and bridegroom from their respective fathers-in-law.

The betel and areca also play an important role in Vietnamese culture in begins the conversation. People chewing betel in formal occasions or as ‘ice breaker’ in awkward situational conversations. It’s also used ceremonially in traditional Vietnamese weddings. Based on a folk tale about the origins of these plants, the groom traditionally offer the bride's parents betel leaves and areca nuts among other things in exchange for the bride. The betel and areca nut become important symbols of the ideal married couple bound together in love.

In Malaysia, they are also traditionally used in occasions such as weddings and engagements. This Malay custom originated from India 2,000 years ago.The betel nut leaf with its accompaniments is considered as offerings during negotiations and discussions when asking for the hand of a maiden. In the old days the offerings come as it is but with the sophisticated society now, the offerings come in dressed. For the engagement (Meminang) preparation, representatives from the young man’s side once again visit the house of the young woman. The potential bride groom will send Sirih meminang, a betel-leaf container (tepak sirih) complete with betel leaves (sirih) to the potential bride. Some betel-leaf container were recreated in shapes, like that of a pumpkin, a melon, a flower, a mango etc; other were shaped like peacocks and parrots.

MEDICINAL USES

Betel leaf has been used from ancient times as an aromatic stimulant and anti-flatulent. It is useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. Its leaf is used in several common household remedies. Its juice mixed with dilute milk and sweetened helps in easing urination. Betel leaves are beneficial in the treatment of nervous pains, nervous exhaustion and debility. The juice of a few betel leaves with a teaspoon of honey will serve as a good tonic.

The betel leaf also has analgesic and cooling properties. It can be applied with beneficial results over the painful area to relieve intense headache. Besides that, betel leaves are useful in pulmonary affection in childhood and old age. The leaves soaked in mustard oil and warmed can apply to the chest to relieve cough and difficulty in breathing. In the case of constipation in children, a suppository made of the stalk of betel leaf dipped in castor oil can be introduced in the rectum. This instantly relieves constipation. Applied locally, betel leaves are beneficial in the treatment of inflammation such as arthritis and orchitis that is inflammation of the testes. Betel leaves also can be used to heal wounds. The juice of a few leaves should be extracted and applied on the wound. Then a betel leaf should be wrapped over and bandaged. The wound will heal up with a single application within 2 days. The application of leaves smeared with oil is said to promote secretion of milk when applied on the breasts during lactation.

This herb is also an effective remedy for boils. A leaf is gently warmed till it gets softened, and is then coated with a layer of castor oil. The oiled leaf is spread over the inflamed part. This leaf has to be replaced, every few hours. After a few applications, the boil ruptured all the purulent matter. This application can be made at night and removed in the morning. A hot poultice of the leaves or their juice mixed with some bland oil such as refined coconut oil can be applied to the loins with beneficial results in lumbago.

In Sabah, the locals believe chewing betel nut prevents fevers and helps digestion. The betel leaf with a drop of oil and slightly heated over a flame placed on the tummy of children calms an upset stomach; and the Malay midwife uses sirih leaves to soothe the pains of a child-giving mother. Besides that, betel also play an important role in animistic rites and ceremonies, when betel offerings, together with tobacco, eggs and rice are presented to the spirits.

Scientists in Calcutta (Indian Institute of Chemical Biology) claim that in betel lies a potential cure for leukemia. A molecule from it has destroyed cancer cell without harmful side effects. This discovery has led to the experiment being carried out in other parts of the West and Japan. In all cases leukemia cells are totally destroyed. The same effect showed on experiments with mice. Clinical trials with humans have yet to be started. If successful, cancer treatment will become cheap and affordable. The journal of the Hematological Society of America has accepted this study for publication in its journal. There is a growing fear about the connection between betel and oral cancer but this has not been conclusively established.

OTHER USES

Betel also used for cooking. Meat is cooked wrapped in betel leaves and cooked. Other fillings like shrimps, shallots and peanuts are often used in South East Asia. Platters are decorated with betel leaves.

ECONOMIC USES

Betel leaves from different regions vary in smell and taste. South Asia areas producing most betel. The harvested leaves are used for domestic consumption and for export to Middle East, to European countries, USA, UK, Pakistan, and Myanmar for used as a stimulant, an antiseptic and a breath-freshener. Betel is one of the major economic sources of rural Bangladesh.

REFERENCES

J.W. Purseglove. 1968. Tropical crops dicotyledons 2. Longmans Green & co.Ltd.

Metcalfe & Chalk. 1965. Anatomy of the dicotyledons volume II. London Oxford at the Claderon Press.

Betel Chewing in South-east Asia. 1995.

http://www.rooneyarchive.net/lectures/lec_betel_chewing_in_south-east_asia.htm [23 January 2009]

Betel. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betel [23 January 2009]

Paan. 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paan [23 January 2009]

**updating...