Pharmacognostic Profile of Simplicia and Ethanolic Leaves Extract from Indonesian Piper betle var. nigra

Abstract

Piper betle var. nigra has potency as an herbal medication. Thus it can be used as a source of medicinal raw materials. Piper betle var. nigra simplicia and extracts must be controlled to obtain unswerving quality and ensure their pharmacological effects by standardizing them through several specific and non-specific parameters. Specific parameters were analyzed organoleptically in the ethanol extract, namely having a thick consistency, brownish-green or blackish-green color, a mild peculiar odor, a bitter, cherish taste, and a slightly spicy flavor. The microscopic simplicia powder profile is as follows: the lower epidermis with idioblasts in oil cells contour and upper epidermis, sclerenchyma, covering hairs, and transport bundles ladder-type thickening, and idioblasts in oil cells contour. Extract content analysis of simplicia and black betle leaves ethanol extract showed water-soluble extract content of 2.77% and 12.45% and ethanolsoluble extract content of 1.38% and 19.1%. Secondary metabolites in the ethanol extract are flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and steroids. The non-specific parameters of the simplicia and extract are as follows; total ash content of 12.1% and 7.43%; acid insoluble ash content of 4.45% and 1.57%; drying shrinkage of 14.5% and 15.85%; total lead (Pb) contamination 47.5 ppm and 1.2 ppm; and the total cadmium (Cd) contamination <0.2 ppm. The total bacterial contamination in the extract was 4.3x105 colonies/g. The total yeast contamination was 8.3x105 colonies/g and volumetric mass density of the water-soluble extract of 0.96 g/mL and the volumetric mass density of the ethanol-soluble extract of 1.01 g/mL. Key words: Piper betle var. nigra, Non-specific parameters, Specific parameters, Black betle, Standardization.