Abstract:Areca-nut is a popular chewing item in tropical Asia and China. It is reported in the domestic and international literature that areca-nut contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, steroids, fatty acids and other chemical constituents, and has functions such as antiparasitic, anti-depressive, anti-fatigue, antioxidant, anti-aging, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, disgestion-promoting, hypoglycemic, and cardiovascular disease-ameliorating effects. With the expansion of the areca-nut sales market and the improvement of people's health consciousness, the side effects of arecanut continue to be amplified, but there is still no authoritative conclusion on the specific substance foundation of its activity and side effects. Exploring the substance source of the bioactivity and side effects of areca-nut has become the key to the sustainable development and food safety of the areca-nut industry. This article provides a theoretical support for subsequent research on areca-nut through reviewing the research on the chemical composition and biological activity of areca-nut.
