Medicinal Plants

Piper betle L.

Sirih

Piperaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Piper betle (Sirih) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Piper betle (Sirih) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Piper betle (Sirih)

Summary

Sirih or betel (Piper betle) is a climbing plant up to 15 meters tall of the Piperaceae family, a plant native to Indonesia distributed as far as India and Papua New Guinea. Its leaves are an important part of the betel-chewing tradition among various ethnic groups in the archipelago, believed to have wide-ranging health benefits. Betel has traditionally been used to treat fever, wounds, eye infections, and promote menstruation.

Agroecology

Lives in areas at elevations of 200-1,000 m above sea level, with rainfall of 2,250-4,750 mm/year. Grows wild in rainforests and teak forests with loose, moist soil conditions, shaded areas protected from wind.

Morphology

  • Roots taproot, round and yellowish-brown in color.
  • Stem greenish-brown in color, round shaped, jointed with nodes which are where roots emerge.
  • Leaves single, heart-shaped, tapering tip,
  • Flowers compound spike-shaped, with elongated round bracts around them.
  • Fruit round, grayish-green in color, growing alternately, stalked, releasing a pleasant smell when crushed.

Cultivation

  • Propagated by cuttings and layering.
  • Cutting method, cutting seedlings come from mature tendrils, cut into 2-3 node sizes.

Chemical Content

Flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, terpenes, diastase, saponins, phenylpropane, tannins, phenol, essential oils (betel phenol, chavicol, caryophyllene, α-terpineol, methyl-eugenol, limonene and caryophyllene).

Benefits

Promotes menstruation, treats asthma, sore throat, canker sores, toothache, swollen gums, dengue fever, removes skin itching and body odor, addresses vaginal discharge, itchy and red eyes, stops bleeding after curettage.

Simplisia

  • Pick betel leaves that have turned dark green then wash thoroughly.
  • Drain and air-dry the leaves until the moisture content reaches 10%.
  • Pack in clean, airtight plastic.

Local Names

Suruh (Java), Seureuh (Sunda), Ranub (Aceh), Belo (Karo Batak), Cambai (Lampung), Uwit (Dayak), Base (Bali), Gapura (Bugis), Mota (Flores), Afo (Sentani).

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Stopping Bleeding After Miscarriage Curettage, Cleansing the Uterus from Sirih

1. Stopping Bleeding After Miscarriage Curettage, Cleansing the Uterus

  • Prepare 1 areca nut cut into 6 pieces, 6 betel leaves, 15 starfruit vegetable leaves.
  • Day 1: 3 betel leaves, 7 starfruit leaves, 3 areca nut pieces.
  • Day 2: 2 betel leaves, 5 starfruit leaves, 2 areca nut pieces.
  • Day 3: 1 betel leaf, 3 starfruit leaves, 1 areca nut piece
  • Wash all ingredients thoroughly. Arrange the betel leaves, starfruit leaves and areca nut according to the day. Roll, chew and swallow.
Traditional recipe Toothache from Sirih

2. Toothache

  • Wash 10 betel leaves then boil with 400 ml water until 200 ml of water remains, strain, divide into 2.
  • Use as a mouthwash morning and evening.

Reference Sources

  1. Carolia N, Noventi W. 2016. Potensi ekstrak daun Sirih Hijau (Piper betle L.) sebagai alternatif terapi Acne vulgaris Majority 5(1): 140-145
  2. Fazal F, Mane PP, Rai MP, Thilakchand KR, Bhat HP, Kamble PS, Palatty PL, Baliga MS. 2014. The phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of Piper Betel. Linn (Betel Leaf): A pan asiatic medicinal plant. Chin. J. Integr. Med.: 1-11.
  3. Rivai H, Nanda PE, Fadhilah H. 2014. Pembuatan dan Karakterisasi ekstrak kering daun sirih hijau (Piper betle L.). Jurnal Farmasi Higea 6(2): 133-144.
  4. Sulianti SB, Chairul. 2002. Perbandingan komponen komia penyusun minyak atsiri sirih liar (Piper ornatum) yang berasal dari Sulawesi Selatan dab pulau Seram dengan Sirih biasa (Piper betle) Berita Biologi 6(3): 493-499.
  5. Piper betle. https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Piper_betle_(PROSEA) 30-04-2020
  6. Junairiah, Ni'matuzahroh, Zuraidassanaaz NI. Sulistyorini L. 2017. Antifungal and antibacterial activity of black betel (Piper betle L. var Nigra) extract. Bioscience Research 14(4): 750-755.
  7. Junairiah, Mahmuda A, Manuhara YSW, Ni'matuzzahroh, Sulistiorini L. 2019. Callus induction and bioactive compounds from Piper betle L. var Nigra. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 217(1): 012026
  8. Junairiah, Ni'matuzahroh, Zuraidassanaaz NI. Sulistyorini L. 2018. Isolation and identification of secondary metabolites of black betel (Piper betlel. var nigra). Jurnal Kimia Riset 3(2).
  9. Rahmawati AN, Kurniawati A. 2016. Pertumbuhan beberapa jenis sirih (Piper sp) pada berbagai intensitas naungan. Buletin Agrohorti 4(3): 288-297.
  10. Patra, B, Das, MT, Dey SK. 2016. A review on Piper betle L. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 4(6): 185-192.
  11. Piper betle. https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Piper_betle_(PROSEA) 30-04-2020
  12. Ummah YPI. 2014. Uji daya antifungal ekstrak etanol daun sirih hitam (Piper betle L. var Nigra) dan daun sirih hijau (Piper betle L.) terhadap penghambatan pertumbuhan Candida albicans secara invitro.
  13. Digital Library UNM. http://library.um.ac.id/free-contents/index.php/pub/detail/uji-daya-antifungal-ekstrak-etanol-daun-sirih-hitam-piper-betle-l-var-nigra-dan-daun-sirih-hijau-piper-betle-l-terhadap-penghambatan-pertumbuhan-candida-albicans-secara-invitro-yunita-putri-irsadul-ummah-66926.html