Abstract:Five phenolic compounds were isolated from ethanol extraction of fruits of Areca catechu. On the basis of spectroscopic evidence (NMR, MS, etc) and spectral data, they were identified as isorhamnetin (1), chrysoeriol (2), luteolin (3), (±)-4′,5-dihydroxy-3′,5′,7- trimethoxyflavonone (4), and jacareubin (5). All the compounds were isolated from Areca for the first time. Anti-bacterial activities showed that compound 5 had significant inhibitory effect on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus.