Celebes pepper is a climbing plant cultivated for its medicinal properties and beautiful leaves. It is closely related to the betel leaf and pepper. The scientific name for this plant, native to Sulawesi, is Piper ornatum. However, some literature confuses it with Piper crocatum, an uncultivated plant native to the Americas. Red betel can also be used as a remedy for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, gout, kidney stones, lowering cholesterol, preventing strokes, treating vaginal discharge, prostate inflammation, eye inflammation, ulcers, fatigue, joint pain, and smoothing the skin.

It grows in the lowlands up to an altitude of 1,800 m a.s.l., prefers a cool climate, and is highly sensitive to salt. It thrives in moist clay soil with a soil pH between 6.3–8.3, an average annual rainfall of 500–2,000 mm/year, and annual temperatures of 12–24 ºC. It also grows well in sandy soil.

• Roots - few, sparingly branched and short. The nodes are conspicuously swollen and the internodes are elongated.

• Stem - swollen at the nodes; orthotropic branches vegetative.

• Leaves - alternate, coriaceous, rather variable; petiole 1-2.5 cm long; blade ovate to ovate-oblong, 5-20 cm × 2-11 cm, base cordate, rounded or oblique, margin entire, shiny bright green.

• Flowers - dioecious, male spike up to 12 cm long, 2 stamens, female spike up to 5 cm × 5 mm, crowded with female flowers with 3-5 stigmas.

• Propagated by cuttings, 30-45 cm long, taken from the tips of vertical shoots. Usually, cuttings have 3- 5 nodes and are planted in the soil with the lowest 2 nodes buried. They are bound to the support as it starts to sprout and crawl along.

• Chemical Compounds

• Alkaloids inhibit bacterial growth by disrupting cell wall formation; they have anti-inflammatory effects.

• Flavonoids function as antioxidants, anticancer agents, and antimicrobial agents to inhibit bacteria and fungi.

• Saponins have antiseptic and antibacterial properties and help accelerate wound healing.

• Tannins function as antioxidants and antimicrobial agents and can help relieve stomach aches and accelerate wound healing.

• Essential oils have antibacterial properties by disrupting the formation of bacterial membranes or cell walls; they are useful for preventing dental plaque.

• Carvacrol, a compound in essential oils, has disinfectant and antifungal properties.

• Eugenol has pain-relieving properties.

• Polyphenols act as powerful antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage.

Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and essential oils, carvacrol, eugenol, & polyphenols