Abstract Background: Betel leaf has been documented to be rich in phytochemicals with diverse pharmaceutical properties. Betel leaf from plants grown in Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala is Geographically indicated and referred as Tirur betel leaf is famous for its flavour and aroma due to its high amounts of essential oils. The anti-cancer phytochemicals in betel leaf extracts have the potential to be used as a chemo preventive or anti-cancer agents in oral carcinogenesis. Aim: Identify and profile the anti-cancer compounds in the ethyl acetate extracts of Tirur betel leaf ( Piper Betel L. Var Puthukodi ) by chemical analysis. Methodology: The betel leaves are sourced from the plantations in Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala. Betel leaf extract was prepared with ethyl acetate as solvent in Soxlant apparatus. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was done with standard methods. Phytochemical compounds profiled using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Results: Alkaloids (14 mg/mL), phenolics (5.13 mg/mL), and terpenoids (7.21 mg/mL) were found to be the main constituents of betel leaf extract by preliminary chemical analysis. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy identified 75 compounds in the extract, and 11 of these compounds identified had documented anti-cancer properties. Conclusion: Betel leaf extracts especially extracts from Tirur betel leaf are rich with compounds with antineoplastic effects and possibly they can be used as chemo preventive or as anti-cancer agent in the management of oral cancer.
Mathew et al. (Tue,) studied this question.