Using the "target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay" strategy to investigate the optimum arecoline content in charred areca nut.

Charred areca nut (CAN) is used to treat dyspepsia and abdominal distension in children. However, reports revealed that arecoline, the most important active constituent of CAN, possesses potential toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the optimum arecoline content in CAN, using the "target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay" strategy. Based on PTLC method, we prepared CAN lacking all arecoline (WAC-100R) and a series of different ratios of arecoline-removed CAN samples (WAC-Rx). MTT and acute toxicity assays indicated that decreasing content by 50% decreased CAN toxicity significantly. Animal results revealed arecoline contents over 50% could guarantee the beneficial effects of CAN on gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, decreasing arecoline content in CAN by 50% decreased its pro-apoptotic effects significantly. Furthermore, decreasing 50% arecoline content in CAN down-regulated the expressions of Cleaved-Caspase-3, c-jun, c-fos, COX-2, PGE2, and IL-1α. Thus, our results revealed that CAN with 50% arecoline content (WAC-50R) has similar beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract to CAN, whereas its toxicity was decreased significantly. Collectively, our study suggested that the strategy of "target constituent removal combined with bioactivity assay" is a promising method to identify the optimum arecoline content in CAN, which is approximately 0.12%.

Betel Nut Chewing in Iron Age Vietnam? Detection of Areca catechu Alkaloids in Dental Enamel.

The betel quid is one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances in the world. By archaeological evidence like the occurrence of areca nuts in archaeological sites, the typical overall reddish-brown staining on prehistoric human teeth or specific artifacts linked with the habit, it is assumed that this tradition reaches back to prehistoric times. Since this kind of evidence is indirect, it is frequently doubted. The present study provides the earliest direct analytical indication of betel nut chewing in human history. A typical stained tooth from an Iron Age skeleton (site Gò Ô Chùa in Southern Vietnam, 400-100 BC) was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-ToF-MS) and the alkaloid arecoline which is specific for Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae) was detected.

Developmental patterning and segregation of alkaloids in areca nut (seed of Areca catechu) revealed by magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry imaging.

Areca nut (seed of Areca catechu) is consumed by people from different parts of Asia, including India. The four major alkaloids present in areca nut are arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline and guvacine. Upon cutting, the nut reveals two kinds of regions; white and brown. In our present study, we have monitored the formation of these two regions within the nut during maturation, using the non-invasive techniques of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and volume localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI MS) imaging have been used to study the associated change in the alkaloid contents of these two regions during the growth of the nut. Our study reveals that white and brown regions start forming within the nut when the liquid within starts solidifying. At the final stage of maturity, arecoline, arecaidine and guvacoline get segregated in the brown region whereas guvacine gets to the white region of the nut. The transport of molecules with maturity and corresponding pattern formation are expected to be associated with a multitude of physiochemical changes.

[Studies on the effect-increasing components for molluscacides in nut of Areca catech L].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect-increasing action of Areca catech for molluscacide. METHOD: Experiments were conducted on the effect-increasing components isolated from the dry nut of A. catech. RESULT: Arecoline has been proved the most effect-increasing component. CONCLUSION: When used with SPA arecoline could reduce markedly the doses of the two agents.

[Studies on the increasing-effect components for molluscicides in nut of Areca catech].

The increasing-effect components for molluscicides isolated from the dry nut of Areca catech L. were studied. The results showed that arecoline was the most effective and it could decrease remarkably the amount of drugs i.e. saponium of Phytolacca acinosa, SPA, and sodium pentachloro phenate, NaPCP, when used together.

Induction of in vivo sister chromatid exchanges by arecaidine, a betel nut alkaloid, in mouse bone-marrow cells.

The genotoxicity of arecaidine, an alkaloid of betel nut, was studied on mouse bone marrow cells in vivo by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) method. Arecaidine was administered intraperitoneally to mice at the dose levels of 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 7.5 mg to each mouse weighing 25 +/- 1 g for 5, 10 and 15 days. Significant increase in the number of SCEs was observed in the treated groups, and this increase, although dose-dependent, was not dependent upon the duration of exposure.