Bioactive Components of Areca Nut: An Overview of Their Positive Impacts Targeting Different Organs

Abstract

Areca catechu L. is a widely cultivated tropical crop in Southeast Asia, and its fruit, areca nut, has been consumed as a traditional Chinese medicinal material for more than 10,000 years, although it has recently attracted widespread attention due to potential hazards. Areca nut holds a significant position in traditional medicine in many areas and ranks first among the four southern medicines in China. Numerous bioactive compounds have been identified in areca nuts, including alkaloids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and fatty acids, which exhibit diverse bioactive functions, such as anti-bacterial, deworming, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, they also display beneficial impacts targeting the nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems. This review summarizes the pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of the bioactive ingredients in areca nut. This helps to ascertain the beneficial components of areca nut, discover its medicinal potential, and guide the utilization of the areca nut.

Keywords: areca nut; bioactive components; pharmacological functions.

Figure 1

Structure and chemical composition of areca nut. Areca nut consists of pericarp (exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp) and seed (seed coat, endosperm, and embryo). The chemical components identified in areca nut mainly include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, fatty acids, triterpenes, and steroids.

Figure 2

Summary of the beneficial functions of areca nut components. Areca nut exhibits diverse pharmacological activities, including effects on the nervous system (refreshing, anti-depression, analgesia, treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, relieving schizophrenia and epilepsy), effects on the endocrine system (glycemic, lipid, and hormone regulation), and gastrointestinal protection, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, deworming, and anti-viral effects. The sharp arrow indicates activation, and the flat arrow indicates inhibition.