Description

The areca nut is the fruit of the areca palm, which grows in much of the Tropical Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia and part of East Africa

Various compounds present in the nut, most importantly are coline (The primary psycho active ingredient which is similar to nicotine, contribute to histologic changes in the oral mucosa, as with tobacco, its use is discoraged by preventive efforts.

In South Africa, the consumption of areca nut has declined gradually in the last decades. The younger generation rarely chews the substance, especially in the cities. Most of the present-day consumption is confined to older generations, mostly people above *0 year olds. Even so, small trays of betel leaves and sliced tender areca nut are sold markets and used as offering in Buddishist shrines.