Betel (Piper betle) has a long history of use in traditional medicine across South and Southeast Asia. Its leaves, in particular, have been employed in folk remedies for a wide variety of ailments, including infectious diseases and fevers, which may include those attributed to malaria. The rationale behind using betel for malaria is primarily rooted in its application for general fever management and as an antimicrobial agent in indigenous healing systems. Betel contains phytochemicals such as eugenol, chavicol, and hydroxychavicol, which exhibit some antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory settings.

However, there is little to no robust scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of betel specifically for the treatment or prevention of malaria. Most references to its use for malaria are anecdotal or found in ethnobotanical surveys, rather than in controlled clinical studies. Modern research into antimalarial treatments does not include betel as a candidate with significant activity against Plasmodium species (the parasites responsible for malaria). While some preliminary lab studies have shown that extracts from betel may have activity against certain microorganisms, these results do not directly translate to clinical efficacy against malaria in humans.

In summary, the use of betel for malaria is justified primarily by tradition, with inadequate scientific validation. Its historical use reflects cultural practices rather than evidence-based medicine.