Areca CATECHU L.
| Synonym : | Areca catechu var. alba Blume Areca catechu F. Communis Becc. Areca catechu var. silvatica Becc. Areca macrocarpa Becc. |
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| Bangla Name : | Supari, Gua. |
| English Name : | Betel Nut, Areca Nut Palm, Areca Palm |
| Family : | Arecaceae |
| Disease : | Astringent, anthelmintic, laxative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue, nervine, cardiotonic, inflammation, diarrhea, anthelmintic and sore lips. |
| Description : | A tall slender palm, 12-30 m high, quite straight. Leaves large 1.2-1.8 m long, leaflets numerous, 30-60 cm long. Spathe double, compressed, spadix much branched, bearing male and female flowers. Fruits globose or ovoid, 3.7-5 cm across, yellow or orange |
| Distribution : | Cultivated all over the country. |
| Chemical Constituents : | Areca nut contains several alkaloids of the pyridine group, such as arecoline, arecaine, arecodine, arecaidine, guvacine, isoguvacine, choline, etc., ?-sitosterol and leucocyanidins. Its water extracts yields catechu, which contains tannins, catechin, gal |
| Uses : | The nut is astringent, anthelmintic, laxative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue, nervine and cardiotonic, improves appetite and taste, useful in bleeding gums, urinary disorders, inflammation of the eyes, giddiness and gleet, checks diarrhoea. The grate |
| Habit : | Small tree |