Red betel or Piper crocatum is a vine that grows in the tropics. Initially, red betel was known as ornamental plant, but later it was used by people as medicinal plant. The red betel leaf is one of the promising herbal plants. In Indonesia, this leaves are used as antidiabetic drugs to lower blood glucose levels. It was supported by experimental lab that decoction of red betel leaf reduce blood glucose level until 37.41%. Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids are among the phytochemical components found in red betel leaf. N-hexane fraction of Red betel leaf can potentially inhibit tyrosinase enzyme (84,4%) and inhibit the activity of melanodialdehyd (free radical component) which is related to skin aging mechanism.

Recently, we are focus on preparing cosmetic product from red betel and anti-diabetes supplement product from a mix of red betel and other herbs.