ABSTRACT
Areca catechu, commonly known as betel nut tree belongs to the family Arecacea. Itgrows in much of the tropical Pacific, Africa and parts of East Asia. It has some beneficial partslike husk, leaves, nuts and sheath which can be used for different purpose. It contains alkaloidsand tannins that have anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory andantioxidant activities. The plant contains phytochemicals and phenols that have potentialbioactivity against diseases in humans. Traditional use of the plant for medicinal applicationshas to be documented for their possible use as future medicines or drugs. The nuts and leavesof the plant have also proved to be effective in the removal of heavy metals and inbioremediation. In this article, the medical applications of the areca plant as an herbal drugand its therapeutics application have been elaborated.