Gen info
Areca nut is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive subtance in the world, chewed regularly by at least 10% of the population, with high prevalences in South and Southeast Asia.

Botany
Erect, solitary tree growing to 25 meters high with annular scars. Leaves about 2-3 meters long with numerous leaflets, 60-90cm long. Spadix is branched and compressed. Fruits are ovoid, smooth, orange to red when ripe; 4-6 cm long, with a fleshy pericarp and fibrous mesocarp.

Distribution
Cultivated throughout the settled areas. Spontaneous in some places.

Chemical constituents and properties
• Alkaloids - arecaine, 0.1%, arecoline, 0.2%, arecaidine, arecolidine, guvacoline, guvacine, isoguvacine; tannin, 15%; red fat, 14%; resin; choline; catechu.
• Fruit flesh on seed contains the alkaloid arecoline with psychoactive properties and chewing produces euphoria, increased alertness, sweating, salivation.
• Emmenagogue, purgative, aromatic, astringent, antifungal, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant.
• Contains a large quantity of tannin. Also contains gallic acid, a fixed oil gum, a little volatile oil and lignin.
• The tanin is located almost entirely in the kernel which decreases as the nut ripens.
Four alkaloids: arecoline, arecain, guracaine and another in very small amounts.
• Young seeds are laxative.
• Vermifuge mature seeds for expeling tapeworms.
• Arecoline resembles pilocarpine and muscarine in its effect.
• Other alkaloids in betel nut are arecaine, guvacoline and guvacine.
º Also contains phenolic compounds: hydroxychavicol and saffrole 12, tannin, resin, cholic and catechu.

Parts used and preparation
Kernel

Uses
Folkloric
· Sprains, bruises, contusions - Crush leaves, mix with a little coconut oil, warm and apply on affected area.
· Tooth whitener: Carbonize and powder a kernel and rub on teeth.
· Tapeworm infestation: 1 glassful of 5% decoction as enema to be retained for one hour. Also, decoction of kernels boiled 20-30 minutes; for less than 12 years of age, 6 kernels (30 g); over 12 years old, 10-12 kernels (50-60 g); for adults, 16-18 kernels (80-90 g). The bunga may be mixed with kalabasa, boil for 1 hour, maintaining 2-glass volume for oral intake.
· In excess, nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhea; intoxicating to some.
· Fruit in decoction considered abortifacient.
• In Ayurvedic medicine, the nut is used for headaches, fever and rheumatism.
• In China, used to treat parasitic infection.
Others
· Cabbage (ubod) is edible, raw or cooked.
· Nut is often used for chewing with lime and ikmo leaves (Piper betel) or litlit (Piper retrofactum).

Studies
• Antioxidant: It has been long believed that the areca seed is a carcinogen causing buccal cancer, an effect that comes from N-nitrosoamine from chewing. The study also showed the seed has strong radical-scavengiing antioxidant benefit. The water and methanol extracts of the seeds in various ages show a higher % tannin and total phenols than other parts of the tree extracts.
• Wound Healing: Study on different wound models in Wister rats showed the alkaloid and polyphenols could be used to enhance healing of skin graft surgery, leg ulcers and burn wounds.
• Anti-Aging: A study showed that Areca catechu extract (CC-516) had anti-aging effects – improving skin hydration, skin elasticity and skin wrinkles suggesting a potential use for cosmetics.
• Anti-Schizophrenic Effects: (1) Study results indicate that betel chewing may exert a beneficial effect on the primary symptoms of schizophrenia, attributed to the pharmacologic effect of the abundant betel nut alkaloid, arecoline. (2) Study results indicate betel chewing is associated with less severe symptoms of schizophrenia
• Betel Quid Effects: (1) Areca alkaloids act as competitive inhibitors of g-aminobutyric acid receptors in the brain, cardiovascular system and pancreas, possibly increasing the appetite or altering insulin secretion. (2) BQ components induce keratinocytes to secrete tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 which may provoke chronic inflammation. The muscarinic action of arecoline, the most abundant betel nut alkaloid, is the most promising pharmacologic explanation for the beneficial effect.
• Nitrosated Compounds / Arecal Alkaloids / Metabolic Effects: Nitrosated derivatives of arecal alkaloid, proven carcinogens in animals, also increase the risk of tumors in man. Nitrosated compounds are also diabetogenic in mice producing type2 diabetes with central obesity with increases in markers of inflammation and cardiovascular damage.
• Metabolic Syndrome Association: Report shows BQ chewing has detrimental effects on selected components of the metabolic syndrome and induction of inflammatory cytokines and factors, possibly increasing the risks for the development of the metabolic syndrome. Study showed a higher incidence of central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, dysglycemia and metabolic syndrome among betel quid chewers than non-chewers.

Cancer Concerns
Risks of mouth cancer in chronic chewers.

Availability
Wildcrafted.