ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To investigated the anti-de-pressant effects of the fruit Areca catechu L.(ACL)and elucidated its potential underlying mechanism using a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS).METHODS CUMS was induced in rats to establish a depression animal model for 28 d.According to the baseline sucrose preference,the male rats were divided into six different groups.They were treated with parox-etine hydrochloride,ACL,and water once a day until the behavioral tests were performed.The levels of corticoste-rone(CORT),malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT),and total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)in serum were de-tected using a commercial kit,and the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and dopamine(DA)mono-amine neurotransmitters in the brain tissues were detect-ed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Doublecortin(DCX)expression in the hippocampal den-tate gyrus(DG)was determined by immunofluorescence,and the relative abundance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),TrkB,PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,PSD-95,and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β of brain tissues were assayed by West-ern blotting.RESULTS ACL markedly increased sucrose preference,decreased the immobility time,and short-ened the feeding latency of CUMS-induced rats.CUMS induction resulted in marked changes in the contents of the monoamine neurotransmitters(5-HT and DA)in the hippocampus and cortex of brain tissues and the levels of CORT,MDA,CAT,and T-SOD in serum,whereas ACL administration alleviated these considerable changes.ACL promoted DCX expression in DG and increased the protein levels of BDNF,TrkB,PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,PSD-95,and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β in the brains of CUMS-induced rats.CONCLUSION Our results indicated that ACL may improve depression-like behaviors in CUMS-induced rats by decreasing the hyperfunction and oxidative stress of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis,stimulating hippo-campal neurogenesis,and activating the BDNF signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
Areca nut is the dried and mature seed of Areca catechu L.in the palm family,which is a medicinal and food resource.It tastes bitter,spicy and warm.It has the functions of killing insects,eliminating accumulation,activating qi and nourishing water.It contains alkaloids,polyphenols,polysaccharides,fatty acids,amino acids,flavonoids,triterpenes and steroids and other chemical components.It has a certain protective effect on the ner-vous system,and mainly includes:① Arecoline con-tained in areca nut can stimulate the sympathetic nerve and simultaneously stimulate M receptor and N receptor,which can be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's dis-ease.② Antidepressant effect.Arecoline can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier and stimulate nerve cell receptors,thus promoting the body's excitement.Total phenols increase the content of monoamine transmitters in the brain by decreasing the content of monoamine oxi-dase,thus exerting therapeutic effect on depression.③ Antioxidant effect.Polyphenols and flavonoids can reduce oxidative damage of nervous system,and their antioxidant capacity is related to their content.④ Anti-inflammatory effect.Areca polysaccharides can exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the production of NO in macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide.⑤Improved digestion.Areca nut water extract has a pro-moting effect on gastrointestinal motility,which is not only related to M choline receptor,but also probably related to α-adrenalin receptor.⑥Other effects.Such as anti-throm-bosis,anti-atherosclerosis,hypoglycemia,blood lipid reg-ulation,anti-tumor,anti-allergy,bacteriostasis,etc.This review summarized the chemical composition and phar-macological action of Areca catechu in recent years.It was found that the mechanism of action of Areca cate-chu L.is still unclear and further research is needed to provide basis for scientific utilization of Areca catechu.
ABSTRACT
Abstract In the present study, anthelmintic activities of Arundo (A.) donax L., Areca (Ar.) catechu L., and Ferula (F.) assa-foetida L. were determined. Leaves of A. donax L., latex of F. assa-foetida L. and seeds of Ar. catechu L. in different solvent fractions were subjected to in vitro (egg hatch assay; EHA, and adult motility assay; AMA) and in vivo (faecal egg count reduction test; FECRT) tests of anthelmintic activity using Haemonchus contortus model. In the AMA, crude aqueous methanol extracts (CAME) and ethyl acetate fractions of F. assa-foetida at 10 hr post-treatment showed maximum mortality of H. contortus at 12.5-50 mg mL-1. In the EHA, CAME of F. assa-foetida was identified as a potent ovicide based on its low LC50 (16.9 µg mL-1), followed in order by Ar. catechu and A. donax. Results from the FECRT also showed the extract of F. assa-foetida L. to be more effective than those of Ar. catechu L. and A. donax L., against the gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. Chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed better anthelmintic activities against the adult worms in vitro, while CAME of these plants were better than their crude powders in vivo. It is recommended to document and investigate indigenous knowledge of possible medicinal plants to plan scientific trials that may justify their endorsement.
Resumo No presente estudo, as atividades anti-helmínticas de Arundo (A.) donax L., Areca (Ar.) Catechu L. e Ferula (F.) assa-foetida L. foram determinadas. Folhas de A. donax L., látex de F. assa-foetida L. e sementes de Ar. catechu L. em diferentes frações de solvente foram submetidos a testes in vitro (teste de eclosão de ovos, EHA e ensaio de motilidade em adultos, AMA); e in vivo (teste de redução da contagem de ovos fecais, FECRT) de atividade anti-helmíntica, usando-se Haemonchus contortus. Na AMA, extratos aquosos brutos de metanol (CAME) e frações de acetato de etila de F. assa-foetida. Dez horas pós-tratamento, apresentaram mortalidade máxima de H. contortus em 12,5-50 mg mL-1. No EHA, CAME de F. assa-foetida foi identificado como um ovicida potente baseado em seu baixo LC50 (16,9 µg mL-1), seguido em ordem por Ar. catechu e A. donax. Os resultados do FECRT também mostraram que o extrato de F. assa-foetida L. é mais eficaz do que o de Ar. catechu L. e A. donax L., contra nematoides parasitas gastrointestinais. As frações clorofórmio e acetato de etila mostraram melhores atividades anti-helmínticas contra vermes adultos in vitro, enquanto o CAME dessas plantas foi melhor do que o pó bruto in vivo. Recomenda-se documentar e investigar o conhecimento indígena de possíveis plantas medicinais para planejar ensaios científicos que possam justificar seu endosso.
Subject(s)
Animals , Ferula , Haemonchus , Anthelmintics/pharmacology , Areca , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , PoaceaeABSTRACT
Areca catechu ranks the first of China's precious "four southern medicines", with a history of more than 1 800 years of medicinal use and extensive clinical application. The pharmacological effects of A. catechu mainly focus on insect repellent, anti-tumor, anti-aging, anti-atherosclerosis and the effects on digestive system and nervous system. In recent years, safety problems such as oral cancer caused by consumption of A. catechu have been frequently reported, and the main chemical components of both medicinal and edible A. catechu are arecoline, so the clinical safety of medicinal A. catechu has been questioned. Based on the chemical composition, this paper analyzes the pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of A. catechu, discusses the points for attention in clinical application, in order to provide a reference basis for the clinical safe and rational use of A. catechu.
ABSTRACT
Areca catechu is a traditional Chinese medicine and an important medicine and food homologous variety, it’s widely distributed in tropical and subtropical provinces in southern China and other countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The fruitage of A. catechu is not only a kind of great fruit widely eaten to welcome guests, but also its peels and seeds can be used as medicines. Arecae Semen is one of the four precious “Southern Medicine” in China. Modern studies have shown that A. catechu contains alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and other chemical constituents. It has multiple activities in promoting digestion, lowering blood pressure and anti-depressant, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and bacteriostatic activities etc. In this paper, the research progress of chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of A. catechu in recent years was summarized, which provided research basis for the edible safety, research and development of traditional Areca products.
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Areca catechu is not only Chinese medicinal material but also one of traditional foods in Southeast Asia and China. In this paper, the usage and security were reviewed to discuss the effect of A. catechu on human health. Meanwhile, we put forward suggestions for the security of A. catechu and they may contribute to the medicinal and edible industry of A. catechu in future.
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Objective: To analyze the effect of extrusion factors such as extrusion speed, screen hole diameter, and extrusion times on the texture properties of extrudate and the quality of pellets. Methods: In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as pelletization aid, lactose, Methocel E5 HPMC, Methocel E15 HPMC, Methocel K100 HPMC, and eight kinds of herbal extracts (extracts of Areca catechu, Patrinia scabiosae folia, Acorus tatarinowii, Sargentodoxa cuneata, Psoralea corylifolia, Dachuanxiong Decoction, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Gastrodia elata) were used as model drugs. Extrudates were prepared under different levels of process parameters, and one part was used to measure the texture parameters, the other part used for quality evaluation after spheronization. Results: With a large screen hole diameter, it showed that hardness of extrudate became lower and the adhesiveness as well as the springiness was significantly higher, leading to a large particle size and poor roundness of pellets. Repeated extrusion could increase hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and resilience of extrudate. Not any strong correlation was found between the extrusion speed and texture properties in the study. Conclusion: The extrusion process could be purposefully selected to prepare ideal pellets accroding to texture properties of extrudate.