thumb|300px|right|पान के पौधे'''पान''' भारत के इतिहास एवं परंपराओं से गहरे से जुड़ा है। इसका उद्भव स्थल वेदों में भी पान के सेवन की पवित्रता का वर्णन है। 
 
वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि से पान एक महत्वपूर्ण वनस्पति है। पान दक्षिण भारत और उत्तर पूर्वी भारत में खुली जगह उगाया जाता है, क्योंकि पान के लिए अधिक नमी व कम धूप की आवश्यकता होती है। उत्तर और पूर्वी प्रांतों में पान विशेष प्रकार की संरक्षणशालाओं में उगाया जाता है। इन्हें भीट या बरोज कहते हैं। पान की विभिन्न किस्मों को वैज्ञानिक आधार पर पांच प्रमुख प्रजातियों बंगला, सांची, देशावरी, कपूरी और मीठी पत्ती के नाम से जाना जाता है। यह वर्गीकरण पत्तों की संरचना तथा रासायनिक गुणों के आधार पर किया गया है। रासायनिक गुणों में वाष्पशील तेल का मुख्य योगदान रहता है। पान में वाष्पशील तेलों के अतिरिक्त अमीनो अम्ल, कार्बोहाइड्रेट और कुछ विटामिन प्रचुर मात्रा में होते हैं। पान के औषधीय गुणों का वर्णन चरक संहिता में भी किया गया है। ग्रामीण अंचलों में पान के पत्तों का प्रयोग लोग फोड़े-फुंसी उपचार में पुल्टिस के रूप में करते हैं। हितोपदेश के अनुसार पान के औषधीय गुण हैं बलगम हटाना, मुख शुद्धि, अपच, श्वांस संबंधी बीमारियों का निदान। पान की पत्तियों में विटामिन ए प्रचुर मात्रा में होता है। प्रात:काल नाश्ते के उपरांत कालीमिर्च के साथ पान के सेवन से भूख ठीक से लगती है। ऐसा यूजीनॉल अवयव के कारण होता है। सोने से थोड़ा पहले पान को नमक और अजवायन के साथ मुंह में रखने से नींद अच्छी आती है। यही नहीं पान सूखी खांसी में भी लाभकारी होता है।
 
== स्रोत्र == 
* [http://epaper.jagran.com/main.aspx?edate=7/8/2006&editioncode=40&pageno=12# दैनिक जागरण, जूलाई ०८, २००६ - बडे काम का है पान ]

es:Piper betle

{{Taxobox
| name = Betel
| image = Piper betle plant.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = A ''Piper betle'' plant
| regnum = Plantae
| divisio = Magnoliophyta
| classis = Magnoliopsida
| ordo = Piperales
| familia = Piperaceae
| genus = ''Piper''
| species = '''''P. betle'''''
| binomial = ''Piper betle''
| binomial_authority = L.
}}

The '''Betel''' (''Piper betle'') is a leaves have medicinal properties. The plant is known by a series of different names in the regions in which it is consumed - among these are '''Taambuul''' and '''Nagavalli''' (Tamil), '''Vettila''' (Malayalam).
The plant is evergreen and perennial, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins, and grows to a height of about 1 metre. The Betel plant originated from South and South East Asia (India, Srilanka, Vietnam, and Malaysia). The best Betel leaf is the "Magadhi" variety (literally from the Magadha region) grown near Patna in Bihar, India. In Kerala, the famous variety of betel leaf is from Venmony near Chengannur and it is called "Venmony Vettila". Betel leaf cultivated in Tirur, Kerala is also of fine quality. Betel leaves exported from Tirur are famous in Pakistan as "Tirur Pan". 

== Ingredients ==
The active ingredients of betel oil, which is obtained from the leaves, are primarily a class of allylbenzene compounds. Though particular emphasis has been placed on chavibetol (betel-phenol; 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyallylbenzene), it also contains chavicol (p-allyl-phenol; 4-allyl-phenol), estragole (p-allyl-anisole; 4-methoxy-allylbenzene), eugenol (allylguaiacol; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-allylbenzene; 2-methoxy-4-allyl-phenol), methyl eugenol (eugenol methyl ether; 3,4-dimethoxy-allylbenzene), and hydroxycatechol (2,4-dihydroxy-allylbenzene).

Several terpenes and terpenoids are present in the betel oil as well.  There are two monoterpenes, p-cymene and terpinene, and two monoterpenoids, eucalyptol and carvacrol. Additionally, there are two sesquiterpenes, cadinene and caryophyllene.

== Chewing ==
thumb|left|150px|The betel leaf

In India, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka and parts of South Asia, the leaves are chewed together with the mineral slaked lime (freebase or alkaline form, thus enabling it to enter the bloodstream via sublingual absorption. The areca nut contains the alkaloid arecoline, which promotes salivation (the saliva is stained red), and is itself a stimulant. This combination, known as a "betel quid", has been used for several thousand years. Tobacco is sometimes added.

Betel leaves are used as a stimulant, an antiseptic and a breath-freshener Paan. In Ayurvedic medicine, they are used as an aphrodisiac. In Malaysia they are used to treat headaches, arthritis and joint pain. In the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China they are used to relieve toothache. In the Philippines, they are used specifically as a stimulant. In Indonesia they are drunk as an infusion and used as an antibiotic. They are also used in an infusion to cure indigestion, as a topical cure for constipation, as a decongestant and as an aid to lactation. 

In India, betel is used to cast out (cure) worms.

In India, the betel and areca play an important role in Indian culture especially among Hindus. All the traditional ceremonies governing the lives of Hindus use betel and areca. For example to pay money to the priest, they keep money in the betel leaves and place it beside the priest.

The betel and areca also play an important role in Vietnamese culture.  In Vietnamese there is a saying that "the betel begins the conversation", referring to the practice of people chewing betel in formal occasions or "to break the ice" in awkward situational conversations.  The betel leaves and areca nuts are used ceremonially in traditional Vietnamese weddings.  Based on a folk tale about the origins of these plants, the groom traditionally offer the bride's parents betel leaves and areca nuts (among other things) in exchange for the bride. The betel and areca are such important symbols of love and marriage such that in Vietnamese the phrase "matters of betel and areca" (''chuyện trầu cau'') is synonymous with marriage.

A related plant ''P. sarmentosum'', which is used in cooking, is sometimes called "wild betel leaf".