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
• The study of antioxidant capacity of various parts of Areca catechu: 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.
• Wound Healing Profile of Areca Catechu Extracts on Different Wound Models in Wistar Rats : Study showed the alkaloid and polyphenols could be used to enhance healing of skin graft surgery, leg ulcers and burn wounds.
• The Effects of Areca Catechu L Extract on 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.
• Effects of chewing betel nut (Areca catechu) on the symptoms of people with schizophrenia in Palau, Micronesia: 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.

Concerns
Risks of mouth cancer in chronic chewers.

Availability
Wildcrafted.