A Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Potential of Areca Catechu L. Seed

Arecanut seed has been used for medicinal properties more than 2000 years in South Asian countries. In fact, various pharmacological activities have been found in the arecanut seed extract or its constituents. Prevention of oxidative stress induced diseases is an urgent problem in all over the world. Traditional use of the plant for medicinal properties is to be documented for their possible use as future medicines or drugs. There is a need for identifying native natural plant sources to acquire to their recognized medicinal properties, which may widen them to use as new therapeutics for various diseases. In the present article, it has been described about usefulness of arecanut as an herbal drug and its therapeutics application prospects. INTRODUCTION: Traditional use of medicines is recognized as a way to learn about the potential of future medicines. Plants have evolved the ability to synthesize chemical compounds that help them defend against attack from a wide variety of predators such as insects, fungi and herbivorous mammals. Many compounds are secondary metabolites generally involved in plant adaptation to environmental stress conditions. Plants are a tremendous source for the discovery of new products of medicinal value for drug development. Today several distinct chemicals derived from plants are important drugs used in one or more countries in the world. Many of the drugs used today are simple synthetic modifications or copies of the naturally obtained substances . A vast number of natural, plant-based extracts and chemicals are purported to have beneficial effects are present in India. Plant profile: Arecanut: Arecanut palm (Areca catechu L.) is cultivated primarily for its kernel obtained from the fruit which is chewed in its tender, ripe or processed form. Arecanut belongs to the family Palmae. Arecanut is the seed or endosperm (nut) of Areca catechu Linn. (Family: Palmaceae) Palm. Areca catechu, a slender, single-trunked, monoecious palm with a prominent crown shaft. In India, in the early Christian era, arecanut use was frequently referred to in Sanskrit medical literature and later also in the Hindu and Buddhist writings.