The benefits of red betel leaf for health have been known since time immemorial. Thanks to these benefits, red betel leaf is used for generations in Indonesia as a traditional medicine to treat a number of health problems.
In Indonesia, red betel leaf (Piper crocatum) usually consumed by drinking boiled water or chewed directly. In addition, there are also supplements made from red betel leaf extract.
Benefits of Red Betel Leaf for Health
You can get the benefits of red betel leaf thanks to the various compounds contained in it, such as flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, polyphenols, tannins, saponins, and volatile oil compounds.
Here are the various benefits of red betel leaf for health:
1. Accelerate wound healing
Red betel contains saponin compounds. The antiseptic properties of this compound are useful for accelerating the healing of open wounds.
In addition, the tannin compounds in red betel leaf can also trigger the formation of collagen (a protein that gives the skin an elastic texture). Collagen can cause wound edges to shrink and close. That way, the wound can heal faster.
2. Prevents bacterial infection
Preventing bacterial infections is also another benefit of red betel leaf. Research says that the phenols and flavonoids in red betel leaf have antibacterial properties, so they can inhibit the growth of bacteria staphylococci, which can cause infection methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aereus (MRSA).
3. Treat rheumatoid arthritis
Research states that red betel leaf extract has the potential to be used as a natural medicine to heal rheumatoid arthritis.
The reason is that various compounds in red betel leaf, such as flavonoids and phenols have anti-inflammatory properties, which are useful for reducing inflammation caused by disease. rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Fight free radicals
The content of flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, and alkaloids in red betel leaf has excellent antioxidant properties. These antioxidant properties are useful for fighting excess free radicals that have the potential to cause damage to cells in the body.
That way, you will also avoid the risk of experiencing various chronic diseases due to excess free radicals, such as atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.
5. Treating diabetes
Red betel leaf has also long been used as a traditional medicine to treat diabetes. Research says that red betel leaf can reduce excess sugar levels in the blood by 10-38%.
The benefits of this red betel leaf are thought to be obtained from the content of alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins in it.
6. Prevents the formation of dental plaque
Red betel leaf is also useful for preventing the formation and reducing the buildup of dental plaque. The benefits of red betel leaf are obtained from essential oils that can inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause dental plaque, such as: Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus caesal, and Actinomyces viscosus.
Although there are indeed many benefits of red betel leaf, these various benefits still need to be studied further.
So, if you want to use red betel leaf as a medicine to treat certain diseases, you should first consult a doctor. That way, the doctor can recommend the right treatment, according to your health condition.