Areca
Areca · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (6 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
, scientifically known as Areca, is a versatile tropical palm celebrated for its diverse medicinal properties. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, the plant is traditionally used to support digestive health, manage oral hygiene, and provide antioxidant benefits. Its various parts offer significant therapeutic potential in various traditional healing practices.
- Family
- Not available
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Fruit
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names and Synonyms
Scientific Names
Accepted name
ArecaRegional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Mischophloeus
- Gigliolia
- Pichisermollia
- Palmera areca
German:
- Betelpalmen
- Betelpalme
French:
- Arec
Sources: Wikidata
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several diverse tropical and subtropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the country of Guinea. Its range extends to the Western Indian Ocean, where it grows in the Comoros. Within China, the species is widely distributed across the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in multiple distinct environments.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros |
| China | China South-Central |
| China | Hainan |
| China | China Southeast |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya |
| Indian Subcontinent | India |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Plant Parts
Areca has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Fruit
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
- Food & function
Conditions
Areca has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include infections, neoplasms.
| Condition | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Infections | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neoplasms | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Infections
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Neoplasms
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Preparations
Areca has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MNPN.
| Preparation | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Mnpn | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Mnpn
- Cancer letters