Arecoline,
arecaidine, guvacine, and guvacoline are the most important and prominent
alkaloids found in areca nut. Nicotine, dichroine, acatechu A, acatechu B,
homoarecoline, N-ethyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridine carboxamide and arecatemines
are some of the minor alkaloids found in some areca nuts. Arecoline is found to
be the most important alkaloid among all, due to its role in modulating many
physiological functions upon human consumption.
In humans,
depending on the dose and individual responsivity, arecoline produces cognition-enhancing,
psychostimulant, euphoric, pro-arousal, aphrodisiac, anxiolysis and sedative
effects. In other words, arecoline produces enhanced alertness and
learnability, enhances the mood, gives a feeling of great pleasure, causes
awakening, stimulates the sexual desire, reduces anxiety and promote calmness. Arecoline
has a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects beyond Central Nervous System
modulating cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems as well. Like nicotine, arecoline also evokes addiction
and withdrawal symptoms (upon discontinuation). Withdrawal symptoms could be mood
swings, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
Arecoline
content in Green Areca nuts (6-7 month's maturity)
Many research
groups have studied the arecoline content in areca nuts cultivated in various
geographical locations and at various level of maturity. Mathew et al., (1964)
from CFTRI Mysore, had studied the arecoline content of areca nuts of 6-7 months maturity collected from Kyatsandra,
Mysore, Thirthahalli and Vittal in Karnataka state and Pudupady in Kerala state of India. They have concluded that the arecoline content
was in the range of 0.14 to 0.19 %.
Huang and Mcleish
(1989) had reported an arecoline content of 0.3-0.63 % in fresh areca nuts
(perhaps 6-7 months’ maturity) collected from Darwin, Australia using HPLC
method. This was the first report of use of HPLC for estimating arecoline. They
had estimated the arecaidine (0.31-0.66%), guvacoline (0.03-0.06%) and guvacine
(0.19 0.72%) in those samples as well.
Sari et al.,
(2020) had studied the arecoline content of unripe green areca nuts (6-7
months’ maturity) collected from two different regions of Indonesia. They had
reported an arecoline content of 0.44 & 0.69 % (on dry weight basis).
References:
1. Mathew et al. (1964) Studies
on Arecanut: Part I - Changes in Chemical Composition & Physical
Characteristics of Nuts with MaturityIndian Journal of Technology, Vol. 2,
No.3, pp. 90-96
2. Huang and McLeish (1989). High-performance
liquid chromatographic determination of the alkaloids in betel nut, Journal of
Chromatography, 415, pp. 447-450.
3. Sari et al., (2020). Distinct phenolic, alkaloid and
antioxidant profile in betel quids from four regions of Indonesia, Scientific
Reports, Vol. 10:16254
