A
comprehensive study involving the most prominent areca cultivation regions of
Karnataka state, India revealed that the total phenolic content (TPC) of 6-7
months’ maturity areca nut lies in the range of 220 to 751.6 mg/g (dry weight
basis) with a median value of 453.2 mg/g (in terms of Gallic acid equivalent).
Another study from Indonesia has revealed that the TPC in the mature nut was in
the range of 108.8 to 216.7 mg/g on dry weight basis. In comparison, Black tea
contains 85 mg/g and green tea contains 114 mg/g of TPC as per one report.
Similarly, ground Arabica coffee contains 6.57 mg/g and Robusta coffee contains
2.27 mg/g of TPC. A thorough analysis of unripe areca nuts of 6-7 month’s
maturity collected from Karnataka, India revealed that the flavonoid content
was more than 70% of TPC in all the samples (21 samples in total) analysed.
Arecatannins, Procyanidins, Catechins, Schaftoside, Luteolin, Rutin, Taxifolin,
Quercetin, Isorhamnetin, Naringenin, Resveratrol, Nubigenol, Phloretin, Ferulic
acid, Caffeic acid, Sinapic acid, Protocatechuic acid, Gallic acid, Syringic
acid, and Ellagic acid are some of the prominent phenolic compounds found in
areca nut.
Mediterranean
diet is considered as one of the healthiest and ecologically sustainable in the
world. A comprehensive study conducted in seven countries, prospective observational
studies and trials in diverse populations, it has been concluded that the
traditional Mediterranean diet and lifestyle followed by the population before
1960, is found to be most beneficial for the prevention and management of
age-associated non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular and metabolic
diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, depression, respiratory diseases,
and fragility fractures comes under age-associated non-communicable diseases.
Mediterranean diet was designated as the healthiest as per the Dietary
Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Reports, who issued 2015–2020 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. Mediterranean diets, which are rich in wines
and fresh fruits and vegetables, are found to be high in catechins. Mediterranean
diet which is considered as one of the healthiest is found to provide about 100
mg of catechins and procyanidins per person per day. Most of the health
benefits of Tea (Black & Green tea) is attributed to Catechin/Epicatechin
& Catechin gallates (Gallic acid esters of Catechins/Epicatechins).
Interestingly, areca nut contains considerable amount of catechins (8.51 - 24
mg/g), yet found little attention in scientific studies.
One
major impediment for accepting areca nut as source of dietary antioxidants is
the presence of Arecoline in areca nuts. Conflicting reports on the
carcinogenicity of Arecoline and the lack of clarity on its dose-response
relationship requires a thorough scrutiny by the scientific community. Any
development of technology to remove Arecoline without affecting the
antioxidants present in areca nut can provide an interesting solution to this
problem. In this direction, my team has done a pioneering work and soon we are
going to bring our invention to the public domain.
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