The
areca nut ( or ) is the seed of the
areca palm (
Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. It is commonly referred to as
betel nut, as it is often chewed wrapped in
betel leaves (
paan). The term
areca originated from a South Asian word during the 16th century, when Dutch and Portuguese sailors took the nut to Europe. The habit has many harmful effects on health. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded after reviewing the published medical research that chewing areca nut is
carcinogenic to humans. Various compounds present in the nut, most importantly
arecoline (the primary psychoactive ingredient), contribute to histologic changes in the
oral mucosa. As with
chewing tobacco, its use is discouraged by
preventive efforts, such as awareness of the risks of chewing buai.