Betel Nut

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Africa, China, India(Santal), Malaya, Egypt, Borneo, Turkey, Solomon I

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Stomach), Ascariasis, Astringent, Beri-Beri

Science studied: ALKALOIDS, ARECAINE, ARECOLIDINE, ARECOLINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Arecaceae

Scientific name: Areca catechu

Common names: Betel Nut, Pin-Lang, Arec cachou, Arec cachou, Aréquier, Bétel, Betel Nut Palm, Betelnusspalme, Betelnuß, Betelpalme, Bunga, Catechu-Palme, Indian nut, Betelnut palm, Betelnut, Betel palm, Areca nut, Areca Nut Palm, Areca Palm, Indian-nut, Mvovo, Palmier à bétel, Pin caraïbe, Pinang palm, Popo

POWO: 664107-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Africa, China, Elsewhere, India(Santal), Malaya, Egypt, Borneo, Turkey and 3 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Stomach)
• Ascariasis
• Astringent
• Beri-Beri
• Cholera
• Circulation
• Colic
• Colitis

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Africa
• China
• Elsewhere
• India(Santal)
• Malaya
• Egypt
• Borneo
• Turkey
• Solomon I
• Java
• India

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Stomach)
• Ascariasis
• Astringent
• Beri-Beri
• Cholera
• Circulation
• Colic
• Colitis
• Cornea
• Dentifrice
• Detergent
• Diarrhea

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Stomach) · Africa · "
• Ascariasis · China · "
• Astringent · Elsewhere · "
• Astringent · China · "
• Beri-Beri · China · "
• Cholera · India(Santal) · "
• Cholera · China · "
• Circulation · China · "
• Colic · India(Santal) · "
• Colitis · Malaya · "
• Cornea · Malaya · "
• Dentifrice · Elsewhere · "
• Dentifrice · Egypt · "
• Detergent · China · "
• Diarrhea · Malaya · "
• Diarrhea · China · "
• Diuretic · China · "
• Dropsy · China · "
• Dysentery · China · "
• Dysentery · India(Santal) · "
• Dyspepsia · China · "
• Edema · China · "
• Energy · China · "
• Fever · Malaya · "

44 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Genotype-dependent profile and developmental dynamics of pyridine alkaloids in Areca catechu L. · 2026 source ↗
• Optimization of Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in Areca Palm (<i>Areca catechu</i> L.). · 2026 source ↗
• Bioactive flavanes from the seeds of Areca catechu L. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALKALOIDS
• ARECAINE
• ARECOLIDINE
• ARECOLINE
• ASH
• CALCIUM
• CARBOHYDRATES
• BETA-CAROTENE
• COPPER
• DIOSGENIN
• FIBER
• GALACTAN
• GUVACINE
• HENEICOSANIC-ACID
• HOMOARECOLINE
• KRYPTOGENIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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