Arecatannins are a class of condensed tannins in the sub-class

procyanidin Procyanidins are members of the proanthocyanidin (or condensed tannins) class of flavonoids. They are oligomeric compounds, formed from catechin and epicatechin molecules. They yield cyanidin when depolymerized under oxidative conditions. See th ...

s contained in the seeds of ''

Areca catechu ''Areca catechu'' is a species of palm native to the Philippines cultivated for areca nuts. It was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1500 BCE due to its use in betel nut chewing. ...

'' also called

betel nut The areca nut ( or ) or betel nut () is the fruit of the areca palm ('' Areca catechu''). The palm is originally native to the Philippines, but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1 ...

. The arecatannin-type natural products from Ceylonese cassia bark and Areca seed are examples of

polyphenol Polyphenols () are a large family of naturally occurring phenols. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some of which have been used historically as ...

s by both current definitions, and fit the distinct definition of a

polymeric A polymer () is a substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their broad spectrum of properties, bot ...

phenol as well.

Known molecules

The following six known arecatannins have been detected in ''A. catechu'' seeds. * Arecatannin A1 * Arecatannin A2 * Arecatannin A3 * Arecatannin B1 * Arecatannin B2 * Arecatannin C1

References

Phytochemicals Polyphenols Procyanidins Tannins Long stubs with short prose {{Polyphenol-stub