Analysis of dental plaque from a 4,000âyearâold burial at NongâŻRatchawat in central Thailand provided the first direct biochemical evidence of betel nut chewing in Southeast Asia. Researchers identified arecoline and arecaidineâkey compounds from areca (betel) nutâeven though the teeth lacked visible staining and no plant fragments were found in the grave. Using liquid chromatographyâmass spectrometry on 36 samples from six individuals, they detected these markers in the molars of...
