Piper betel Areca alkaloids

Seed of the tropical palm Areca catechu. Betel nuts may be chewed solely, but also in combination with lime and betel leaves (Piper betel). The betel leaves, which contain phenols, probably produce synergistic effects in combination with betel nuts. Lime (Ca(OH)2) quickens the absorption of the main psycho-active ingredients, areco-line qv and structurally related alkaloids. The practice of betel-chewing is widespread throughout Asia and dates from over 7000 years ago. 8-10 g of pulverized nut may be lethal. 

Nuts have many uses, both industrial and domestic. For instance, the ivory nut, or tagua, is a source material for the manufacture of buttons and turnery articles. The kola nut supplies ingredients for popular cola beverages in the United States (see Carbonated beverages). StTychnos nux-vomica provides the important medicine and poison, strychnine. The areca or betel nut is chewed by the Indian and Malayan people as a narcotic a slice of the nut is placed in a leaf of the pepper plant Piper betle) together with a pinch of lime the mixture is an acrid, astringent narcotic that dyes the mouth red, blackens and destroys the teeth. The areca nut contains, among other alkaloids, arecoline, an active anthelminthic widely used in veterinary practice for the treatment of tapeworm infections. 

Areca nuts (betel nuts) are the seeds of Areca catechu (Palmae/Arecaceae), a tall palm cultivated in the Indian and Asian continents. These nuts are mixed with lime, wrapped in leaves of the betel pepper (Piper betle) and then chewed for their stimulant effect, and subsequent feeling of well-being and mild intoxication. The teeth and saliva of chewers stain bright red. The major stimulant alkaloid is arecoline (up to 0.2%) (Figure 6.36), the remainder of the alkaloid content (total about 0.45%) being composed of related reduced pyridine... 

Many of the world s population (more than 200 million people worldwide) chew betel nut quid, a combination of areca nut, betel pepper leaf (from Piper betle), hme paste, and tobacco leaf. The major alkaloid of the areca nut, arecoline, can produce chohnergic adverse effects (such as bronchoconstriction) (1) as well as antagonism of anticholinergic agents (2). The lime in the betel quid causes hydrolysis of arecohne to arecaidine, a central nervous system stimulant, which accounts, together with the essential oil of the betel pepper, for the euphoric effects of chewing betel quid. 

Betel nut quids consist of areca nut Areca catechu) wrapped in betel vine leaf Piper betle) and smeared with a paste of burnt (slaked) lime. It is chewed for the euphoric effects of the major constituent, arecoline, a cholinergic alkaloid, which appears to be absorbed through the mucous membrane of the mouth. Arecoline has identical properties to pilocarpine and normally has only mild systemic cholinergic properties however asthmatic subjects seem to be particularly sensitive to the bronchocon-strictor effects of this alkaloid and possibly other substances contained in the nut. 

Areca catechu (Arecaceae, betel nut) is the world s most commonly used masticatory. This palm seed is used in conjunction with Piper betle leaves, Acacia catechu bark, lime, and other accompaniments (Gowda, 1951) by perhaps 1 billion of the world s inhabitants daily. Arecoline (52) is the most commonly studied alkaloid of Areca catechu seeds. This alkaloid has muscarinic action (mimics acetylcholine and binds to acetylcholine receptors) (Wink, 1993). Low doses produce vasodilation and a fall in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Arecoline exerts stimulatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract and enhances diaphoresis. Arecoline has an LD50 s.c. of 100 mg/kg in mouse. This alkaloid is a feeding deterrent to certain insects (Wink, 1993). 

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