Arecoline

About: Arecoline is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 744 publications have been published within this topic receiving 16015 citations. The topic is also known as: methylarecaiden & methylarecaidin.

Exploring the neurotoxicity and changes in life cycle parameters of Drosophila melanogaster exposed to arecoline

Abstract: Arecoline (an alkaloid) has been reported as a potent cytotoxic as well as genotoxic agent but its neurotoxic effects are limited. In the present study, we evaluated the neurotoxic effects and changes in life cycle parameters of Drosophila melanogaster on exposing the flies to 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 μM of arecoline for 5 days. After the exposure, the flies were assayed for climbing ability, activity pattern, oxidative stress markers, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase activity (MAO), caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and apoptosis in the neuronal cells. For studying the effects on life cycle parameters, duration of pupation, emergence and life span were also studied. The exposure of flies to 5 and 10 μM of arecoline did not show toxic effects, but the flies exposed to 20, 40 and 80 μM showed a significant dose-dependent loss of climbing ability, activity pattern, MAO, glutathione (GSH) content and acetylcholinesterase activity and increase in the glutathione-S-transferase (GST), MAO activity, lipid peroxidation assay (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and apoptosis in the neuronal cells. The exposure of flies to arecoline not only results in the delay of pupation but also delayed the emergence of flies. A significant reduction was also observed in the life span of flies exposed to 20, 40 and 80 μM of arecoline. The eyes of flies emerged from the larvae exposed to various doses of arecoline were also analysed for the phenotypic abnormality. Clear dose-dependent deformities were observed in the eyes of the flies emerged from the exposure of larvae exposed to 20, 40 and 80 μM of arecoline. Arecoline not only is a neurotoxic agent but also affects the life cycle parameters of the fly.

Estimation of arecoline content of various forms of areca nut preparations by high-pressure thin-layer chromatography

Abstract: Background: Areca nut and its commercial preparations such as pan masala have been causatively linked in the disorder oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Arecoline, major alkaloid of areca nut, is involved in stimulating fibrosis through transforming growth factor beta pathway. Areca consumed in various forms and with additives alters the arecoline content of the nut. Aims: Estimation of levels of arecoline in various areca nut preparations consumed in the country (raw, boiled, and roasted) along with commercially prepared sample of areca nut (pan masala). Materials and Methods: Estimation and validation were performed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography system (CAMAG® Muttenz, Switzerland). Four samples of 5 g each of raw, roasted, boiled, and pan masala containing areca nuts were assessed. Pure arecoline was used for validation as a control. Three runs of each with interand intra-day validations were carried out as per established protocols. Results: Raw areca nut contains the highest concentration of arecoline (1.15 ± 0.008) followed by pan masala preparations (0.94 ± 0.006), least content in boiled areca nut (0.79 ± 0.009), while roasted variety exhibited an intermediate level (0.85 ± 0.007). Conclusions: Alteration of contents of the areca nut has great implications in its capacity to induce the potentially malignant disorder of OSF. The use of raw areca nuts in commercial preparations and well-known observations of greater incidence of the development of OSF and probable malignant transformation with these forms is probably related to their arecoline content.

Effect of arecoline on synaptosomal K+-phosphatase and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

Abstract: Synaptosomal fractions and synaptosomal membranes from rat brain tissue were prepared and characterized enzymatically. Arecoline increased both the activity of K+-phosphatase in incubated synaptosomal fractions and the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity of synaptosomal membranes by 40% and 78%, respectively. This activation of ion transport processes is believed to be associated with increased ACh synthesis produced by arecoline.

Volatile Alkaloids from Areca catechu.

Abstract: High resolution GC-mass spectral analysis of the volatile bases present in fruits of Areca catechu confirmed the presence of arecoline and guvacoline, but also indicated the presence of six other related, but hitherto undetected, alkaloids.