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More t h a n t w e l v e cultivars o f Piper betle are reported i n Sri Lanka b u t n o chemical studies have been carried o u t o n t h e m . T h e present s t u d y describes t h e morphological, physic0 -chemical, chemical and antimicrobial activities o f six main cultivars of P. betle Linn namely Galdalu, Malzamaneru, K u d a m a n e r u , R a t a d a l u , N a g a w a l l i and Malabulath. T h e chemical constituents identified i n t h e essential oil o f Malabulath b y Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were different t o those from t h e other c u l t i v a r s . T h e m a j o r c o m p o u n d i n M a l a b u l a t h w a s allylpyrocatechol diacetate while t h a t i n all other cultivars categorized a s c o m m o n b e t e l w a s s a f r o l e . C h e m i c a l compositions of t h e essential oil o f t h e leaf, stalk, stem, fruit and root were different. T h e major compounds i n t h e leaf,Gampaha, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Matale and Galle are the main betel cultivating districts in the country. In Sri Lanka, more than twelve cultivars of betel have been recognized by the villagers but no systematic nomenclature and scientific classification of these cultivars are recorded. The objectives of the present study are to identify the different cultivars of betel found in Sri Lanka using morphological characters and chemical properties of the oil.(to assist a scientific classification of the different P. betle Linn. cultivars found in Sri Lanka). In most stem, stalk and root oil was safrole b u t i n t h e fruit it w a s P-Of the the constituents depend on the phellandrene. T h e composition o f t h e oil also varied w i t h maturity and the part analysed. Hence in the maturity. T h e essential oil from common betel was active against Escherichia coli ( N C T C 101481, P s e u d o m o n a

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Piper betle Linn. (Family: Piperaceae) is a common plant cultivated in Asian countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential and possible applications of P. betle leaves grown in Sri Lanka. This was carried out using P. betle cold ethanolic extract (CEE), hot water extract (HWE) and essential oil (EO). The initial free radical scavenging activity of CEE was higher than that of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). Further, antioxidant activity of CEE, EO and HWE did not significantly deviate from the initial antioxidant activity up to 12 months. However, at elevated temperature (200°C) antioxidant activity was significantly reduced (EC 50 values of CEE, EO and BHT increased by fourfold and HWE by threefold) compared to their initial values. The reduction of antioxidant activity of CEE was lesser than that of BHT. Peroxide values (PV) were significantly lower in CEE-incorporated coconut and palm oil samples compared to that of BHT-treated samples. Moreover, CEE extended the shelf-life of potato chips and increased the stability of Aloe gel.

Aerial parts of Trichosanthes cucumerina (Family: Cucurbitaceae) are used in traditional medical systems for treatment of diabetes and other diseases. The present study was designed to experimentally evaluate the antidiabetic potential of a hot water extract (HWE) of T. cucumerina (TC) aerial parts. In normoglycemic rats, HWE mediated (a) a dose dependent reduction in fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels (by 35% at 4h post-treatment with dose of 750 mg/kg) and (b) a significant (P<0.05) improvement of glucose tolerance. In STZ-induced diabetic rats, no immediate hypoglycemic effect was observed. However, with continuous administration, there was a gradual reduction in FBS (by 56.8% on day 14 and by 64.4% on day 28). In normoglycemic rats, on day 14 and day 28, the percentage reduction in FBS levels were 41% and 44% respectively. At the end of 28 days, in both normoglycemic and STZ-induced diabetic rats, there was a significant increase in the levels of liver glycogen and adipose tissue triglyceride levels, in comparison with the respective controls that did not receive HWE. However, HWE failed to inhibit intestinal glucose uptake. It may be concluded that T.C can exert significant antidiabetic activity, possibly through multiple effects involving pancreatic and extra pancreatic mechanisms.

MT and LAWS, the main ingredient of MT, were effective in killing Chrysomya larvae. Essential oil obtained from betel leaves also showed a dose-dependent larvicidal effect on Chrysomya larvae. This natural product may be effective in the treatment of wound myiasis.