Betel leaves are regularly used as paan which acts as a mouth freshener or is also consumed with sweet or gulkan.
There is this popular song called as Ye Kaike Paan Bana ras wala of hero Amitabachchan the Big B.
We eat betel leaves casually, without realising how it could benefit our body. Betel leaf belongs to the genus piper and its scientific name is Piper betel.
It is called a Tamalapaku in Telugu. Paan Pattha in Hindi. There is Kalkatta paan also.
Betel leaves are used for religious purposes and for chewing. Betel vine varieties are divided into five main groups based on the morphological characteristics and presence of essential oils.
Betel leaves may have cooling and relieve pain. it is very good for digestion. It may be used to relieve pain from severe headaches sometimes. it is tied to the wounds and they heal easily.
Betel leaves have anti-cancer properties and may protect the body against cancer.
Studies showed that phenolic-related compounds in betel leaf extract may possess the capacity to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
Betel leaves may be used for fungal infections, contain a bioactive compound hyroxychavicol (polyphenol) and may inhibit the growth of fungus.
Betel leaves are used as an antifungal agent for topical infections or as gargle mouthwash for oral fungal infections.
