Pinang or jambe is one of completeness in chewing among older people. In addition, the Indonesian people use this plant as a natural remedy to strengthen the gums, teeth, and treat diseases worms.Later, areca nut known efficacious enhance. In Japan, even the plant is cultivated to be used as raw material for the drug industry. Seeds of fruit crops in Latin called Areca catechu is used as a mixture of whiting that make the mouth and teeth reddish. Betel nut is also an important role in the Sundanese traditional wedding ceremony.
"To show ngeuyeuk seureuh before the wedding. It should always be there because part that can not be separated in marriage, "said Prof H Unus Suriawiria, biotechnology and agro-industry expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology who is also a native of Sunda.
In everyday life, other than for chewing, betel nut used by the community as a traditional medicine to strengthen teeth and gums. You do this by chewing betel nuts slices. According to Prof. Unus, this habit is also applied to rural communities in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Still according to Professor Unus, the efficacy of betel nuts are not only useful for teeth and gums, "In the betel nuts contained substances that are useful as a passion-enhancing drug."
He cited research in Japan and Taiwan that a seed nut has efficacy equivalent to five packs passion-enhancing drug that is made of synthetic compounds. "As an addition to many passionate man who advertised it, you know," he said.
Efficacy of adding this passion is not just nonsense because he said in a nut contained arekolin. These compounds are kholinergik arekolin, which is useful to overcome kholin acetyl compounds which are circulating in the body. Acetyl this kholin when too much can cause a person to feel tired and unwell. Conversely, the nature of areca useful kholinergik make the body healthy, fit, and energetic.
In India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, betel nuts are a snack treat that quite attractive. "The fruit of nut in these countries were sliced into small pieces and roasted. After it is packed in plastic bags or cans as well as nuts packaged in plastic in Indonesia, "said Professor Unus.
Food and textile industries also begin to look nut. Therefore, areca seed extract in red wine potential as fabric dyes and foods.
"The use of red color that comes from these seeds are now highly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies. Therefore, artificial red color are carcinogenic or cause cancer, "he continued.
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Meanwhile, according to Endah Lasmadiwati, herbalist from Park Sringanis Bogor, areca nut has several properties that can cure some diseases. Among these are a useful anthelmintica shed worms and adstringensia to shrink mucous membranes.
The nature of this worm has long shed our ancestors used to cure intestinal worms in rural areas. In addition, the nut also stimulates the (stimulant), stop the bleeding (haermostatica), and antisifilis.
