Abstract

• The present study was carried out to investigation of preliminary phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity and antioxidant activity of Piper betel L. leaf (Piperaceae) commonly known as betel vine. The plant is locally known as Kun in Myanmar. Phytochemical investigation of P. betle leaf revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycoside, carbohydrate, amino acid, phenolic compound, flavonoid, steroid, terpenoid, saponin, tannin, starch, reducing sugar and organic acid. From the results of antibacterial activity assay, it was observed that ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of P. betle leaf have high antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillius pumilus and E. coli. Screening of antioxidant activity was done by DPPH free radical scavenging assay by using UV spectroscopic method. The IC50 values for the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were 54.61 µg/mL and 70.53 µg/mL, for watery extract was 105.80 µg/mL. The smaller the IC50 value the greater the antioxidant activity. Ethanol extract of P. betle showed the more effective results.