Dose Dependent Effect of Piper Betle Linn. Leaf Extract on Erythrocytes of Experimental Mice

ion of a hydrogen atom from poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA); the hydroxyl radical is capable of starting this reaction sequence [4, 5]. While Piper species are reported to have wide spectrum of biological activity but its antioxidant potential has not been established so far, making it important and interesting to analyze the antioxidant potential of Piper betle leaf extract in the present study. Many unknown and lesser known plants are used in folk and tribal medicinal practices in India, with their medicinal values not known much to the scientific world. Piper betle (Family Piperaceae) is one such plant, which is commonly known as “pan” and often chewed by Indians resulting in habit formation of this practice. Medicinally Piper betle has been attributed with properties – like anti poisonous [6] and wound healing [7]. Extracts of Piper betle leaves also possess antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet activities [8, 9]. Ethanol extracts of Piper betle leaf exhibited gastrocytoprotective properties on experimentally induced gastric lesions [10] and betel nut along with the betel leaves significantly reduced the infiltration activity and abolished the surface anesthetic activity of betel leaf [11]. Studies on the physiological effects have shown that the initial effects of chewing betel with areca nut and other adjuncts can cause excitation of the salivary glands and also irritation to the mucous membrane of the mouth. Betel leaf alone apparently does not induce tumors and it seems to be the combined usage of betel nut and tobacco which provides the carcinogenic stimulus [12]. Prolonged consumption of betel leaves will cause cancer of the mouth, upper aero digestive tract and stomach [13]. Original Article