Journal
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 110, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.104548
Keywords
Areca Nut (AN); Alkaloids; Arecoline; Cancer; Metabolism; Toxicity; Pharmacology
Categories
Funding
- Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi [SR/WOS-A/CS-26/2014]
- Government of India
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Areca Nut (AN), the seed of tropical palm tree Areca catechu, is a widely chewed natural product with estimated 600 million users across the world. Various AN products, thriving in the market, portray 'Areca nut' or 'Supari' as mouth freshener and safe alternative to smokeless tobacco. Unfortunately, AN is identified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Wide variation in the level of alkaloids, broadly ranging from 2 to 10 mg/gm dry weight, is observed in diverse variety of AN sold worldwide. For the first time, various factors influencing the formation of carcinogenic alkaloids in AN at various stages, including during the growth, processing, and storage of the nut, are discussed. Current review illustrates the mechanism of cancer induction by areca alkaloids in humans and also compiles dose-dependent pharmacology and toxicology data of arecoline, the most potent carcinogenic alkaloid in AN. Careful monitoring of the arecoline content in AN can potentially be used as a tool in product surveillance studies to identify the variations in characteristics of various AN sample sold worldwide. The article will help to generate public awareness and sensitize the government bodies to initiate campaigns against AN use and addiction.
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