Supari
Areca catechu
Areca nut, the seed of a palm chewed by about 600 million people, usually in betel quid. It causes mouth and throat cancer.
Safety at a glance
- PregnancyNothing recorded
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- Toxicity1 note →
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Supari?
- Plant family
- Arecaceae, the palm family
- Parts used
- The seed (areca nut)
- Where it grows
- South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- Genus
- Areca
- Species
- catechu
Also called
Areca Nut, Betel Nut
Traditionally used for
- Chewed as a stimulant (traditional)
Traditionally described as
- Contains arecoline
Natural compounds
Safety
Toxicity testing
Chewing areca nut or betel quid causes cancers of the mouth and throat and precancerous mouth conditions, with or without tobacco. Arecoline, the nut's main alkaloid, and its breakdown products drive this damage.[1]Study
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Areca nut is chewed by about 600 million people worldwide, usually in betel quid with betel leaf and slaked lime, often with tobacco.[1]Study
In short
Causes cancers of the mouth and throat.
Sources
- [1] Adverse Health Effects of Betel Quid and the Risk of Oral and Pharyngeal Cancers · DOI: 10.1155/2017/3904098Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.