Areca nut is a palm tree species of areca nut, mainly distributed in Hainan, Taiwan, and other places. It has high nutritional value and certain medicinal effects, which can treat diarrhea, beriberi, and has a significant effect on patients with intestinal parasites; and chewing areca nut in winter also has the effect of driving away the cold. Although areca nut has many effects, it should be chewed in moderation, otherwise it may lead to the occurrence of oral cancer.

1. Vermifuge effect:

According to reports, the decoction and alcohol precipitation liquid of areca nut has a significant antiparasitic effect on liver flukes in vitro. The parasites treated with areca nut are fully extended, thin and flat, and their length significantly increases. The decoction of areca nut can promote the liver migration of blood flukes in mice. Extracts of areca nut containing 1-2% tannic acid can cause弛缓性麻痹 in pork tapeworms, beef tapeworms, and short tapeworms, with the head and immature segments being more sensitive than the mature segments. The site of paralysis may be in the nervous system rather than the muscle.

2. Effects on cholinergic receptors:

Arecoline has the effect of exciting M-cholinergic receptors, chewing areca nut can increase the tension of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, enhance peristalsis, promote the secretion of digestive juices, and increase appetite. Arecoline can slow down the heart rate of rabbits and cause constriction of coronary arteries and uterine smooth muscle. It also has a synergistic effect on the constriction of mouse lower limb blood vessels with atropine. Arecoline can also excite N-cholinergic receptors, manifesting as excitement of skeletal muscles, ganglia, and carotid bodies. It also has a cholinergic-like effect on the central nervous system.

3. Antimicrobial effect:

It is reported that the aqueous extract of areca nut has varying degrees of inhibitory effects on dermatophytes such as Trichophyton schenckii and Trichophyton violaceum.

4. Antihypertensive effect:

It is reported that the Areca II-5-C substance isolated from areca seeds has a significant inhibitory effect on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in vitro.

5. Anticancer effect:

The polyphenolic compounds obtained from areca nut have a significant inhibitory effect on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and a moderate cytotoxic effect on Hela cells.

Other effects:

The ethyl acetate extract of areca nut can cause spasms in the pregnant uterus of rats. The crude extract of areca nut has a stronger inhibitory effect on 5′-nucleotidase than on other phospholipases, and rat macrophages can be directly activated.