Abstract

Piper betle Linn (PBL) is a well-known medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for various ailments. The leaves of P. betle Linn have been reported to exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. The major active compounds responsible for the antimicrobial activity of P. betle Linn are phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. This review article aims to summarize the current knowledge on the antimicrobial activity of P. betle Linn leaf extracts against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. The article also discusses the major active compounds responsible for the antimicrobial activity of P. betle Linn and their mechanism of action. Further, the potential use of P. betle Linn as a natural antimicrobial agent to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is discussed. The review highlights the need for further studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of P. betle Linn extracts as a potential antimicrobial agent.