The main active ingredients of areca nut are alkaloids, the most important of which are arecoline and arecoline.

Arecoline is a tetrahydropyridine alkaloid and a characteristic component of areca nut, accounting for more than 80% of areca nut alkaloids. Arecoline is an isoquinoline alkaloid and a minor component of areca nut, accounting for about 10% of areca nut alkaloids.

Betel nut (scientific name: Arecacatechu L.), also known as big belly, binmen, olive, belongs to the genus Areca in the palm family. It is a kind of warm and humid positive plant that likes high temperature, abundant rainfall and humid climate environment. It is commonly found scattered in the secondary forests of tropical monsoon forests at the bottom of low valleys, at the foot of ridges, at the foot of slopes and on plains and streams. The origin of betel nut is in Malaysia, and in China, it is mainly distributed in tropical areas such as Yunnan, Hainan, and Taiwan. It is also widely cultivated in tropical areas of Asia. The seeds of betel nut can be chewed. In some places, such as some countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, people often wrap betel nut seeds with betel leaves and lime powder and chew them to stimulate the mouth, increase saliva secretion, and refresh the mind.