4.areca

 Known

as Betel nut  Obtained from Areca catechu  Palmae  Known to china as pinlang  Consumed as a Masticatory  Known as a Taeniacide

Collection  Tree

bears orange yellow ripened fruits  Detached from tree by bamboo poles  Pericarp is fibrous & surrounds the seed , it is easily separated  Before export seeds are boiled in water containing lime & are dried

Description  Testa

deep brown marked with network of depressed fawn coloured lines  Inner layer of pericarp patches of silvery coat occasionally adhere to testa  Shape blunt , rounded conical  Faint odour when broken  Astringent & acrid taste

Section  It

shows ruminate endosperm opal white , composed of cells with thick cellulose walls  Endosperm is traversed by no.of irregular brown wavy lines (folds of testa & perisperm ) extending intolight coloured interior (ruminate endosperm )  At the flattened end of the seed is a small embryo (indicated by external paler area in its position )

Constituents 

 

Alkaloids reduced pyridine derivatives Arecoline Arecaine Guvacine Others Arecaidine , guvacoline , arecolidine Tannins & fats

Uses   

Sialogogue Vermifuge & Vermicide in veterinary Parasympathomimetic

Test 

With ferric chloride gives greenish black coloration