776. Areca

Nomenclature

Betel nuts; pinang.

Description and references

Nuts (seeds) of Areca catechu L., Palmaceae. Habit. East Indies. Constit. Arecoline, arecaidine, guvacine, guvacoline, arecolidine, choline, about 15% red tannin, about 14% fat. Reviews: L. Marion “The Alkaloids of Areca Nut” in Manske-Holmes, The Alkaloids Vol. I (Academic Press, New York, 1950) pp 171-175; Raghavan, Baruah, Econ. Bot. 12, 315 (1958).

Properties

Hard and heavy; round-conical and depressed at base. Extern. brown, mottled with fawn color; intern. brownish-red with whitish veins; astringent taste; the fresh nuts have a faint, cheese-like odor.

Therapeutic Category

Anthelmintic.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Has been used for tapeworms, ascarids.