Arecoline is found to be the most
important alkaloid among four major alkaloids and seven minor alkaloids found
in areca nuts due to its role in modulating many physiological functions upon
human consumption. Depending on the stage of maturity of areca nuts harvested, method of processing, geographical location and cultivar, its concentration can vary between 0.64 to
12.79 mg/g on dry weight basis.
In humans, depending on the dose and
individual responsivity, arecoline causes enhanced alertness and learnability, enhanced mood,
feeling of great pleasure, higher awakening, stimulation of the sexual desire,
reduction in anxiety and promotion of calmness.
Arecoline is a very effective antiparasitic drug. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses three forms of processed areca nut (raw Arecae semen, Arecae semen tostum and Arecae semen carbonisata) for the preparation of antiparasitic drugs. Arecoline is found to be highly effective against tapeworms.
Arecoline has a wide spectrum of
pharmacological effects beyond Central Nervous System such as modulation of 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.
The International Agency for Research
on Cancer (IARC), an intergovernmental agency affiliated to WHO of the UN,
published its report on the carcinogenic hazards of arecoline in 2021 (Vol.
128). About
20 experts drawn from 11 countries including India were part of the “working
group”. After a thorough analysis, the working group concluded that “Arecoline is possibly carcinogenic to
humans (Group 2B)”.
The working group came to a conclusion
that arecoline exhibit multiple key characteristics of carcinogens in general.
It alters DNA repair mechanism and causes genomic instability in experimental
systems. However, the group found limited evidence for cancer in experimental
animals. The group didn’t find any studies on the incidence of cancer due to
the arecoline. Hence, with a greater degree of uncertainty, the working group
concluded that arecoline might be a carcinogen.
Many leading researchers are of the opinion that arecoline and related compounds have a considerable potential in medicine, with multiple positive neural effects that can be applied in neurology and psychiatry.
References:
IARC
monograph published in 2021, Vol. 128.
Volgin
et al. (2019). DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Arecoline. ACS Chemical
Neuroscience, Vo. 10, pp. 2176-2185.
