 Known as Betel nut

 Obtained from Areca catechu

 Palmae
 Known to china as pinlang
 Consumed as a Masticatory
 Known as a Taeniacide
 Collection
 Tree bears orange yellow ripened
fruits
 Detached from tree by bamboo poles
 Pericarp is fibrous & surrounds the
seed , it is easily separated
 Before export seeds are boiled in
water containing lime & are dried
 Description
 Testa deep brown marked with network
of depressed fawn coloured lines
 Inner layer of pericarp

patches of silvery coat

occasionally adhere to testa
 Shape blunt , rounded conical
 Faint odour when broken
 Astringent & acrid taste
 Section
 It shows ruminate endosperm
opal white , composed of cells with
thick cellulose walls
 Endosperm is traversed by no.of
irregular brown wavy lines (folds of
testa & perisperm ) extending
intolight coloured interior (ruminate
endosperm )
 At the flattened end of the seed is a
small embryo (indicated by external
paler area in its position )
Constituents
 Alkaloids reduced pyridine derivatives
Arecoline
Arecaine
Guvacine
 Others
Arecaidine , guvacoline , arecolidine
 Tannins & fats
Uses
 Sialogogue
 Vermifuge & Vermicide in veterinary
 Parasympathomimetic
Test
 With ferric chloride gives greenish black
coloration