Areca nut consumption is a popular habit in Southeast Asian countries. One of the important biologically active alkaloids of areca nut is arecoline, which plays a role in mediating the development of several pathologies of the primary exposure site, the oral cavity. Studies on the metabolism of arecoline revealed the formation of several metabolites which themselves might be toxic. Moreover, polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes involved in the metabolism of arecoline might predispose an organism towards the development of oral cancer. The present review tries to accumulate all the relevant existing literature and then elucidate the molecular mechanism by which arecoline plays a role in the development of oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. Existing information regarding arecoline metabolism, enzymes involved in the metabolic process and biological effects of the metabolites of arecoline have also been compiled and compared to study the toxicity of metabolites with its parent compound arecoline and whether they play any role in the pathogenesis of oral cancer mediated by areca nut consumption. A repertoire of molecular targets has come up in the discussion whose expression profile is perturbed by arecoline. Construction of induction cascade from existing literature has given an idea about the process of molecular pathogenesis. The summarized and analysed data can help to determine the molecular mechanism and drug targets, which in turn could be helpful in the prevention or treatment of these pathological conditions. It also brings into light areas where further research needs to be directed.
- MeSH
- Areca adverse effects MeSH
- Arecoline * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Metabolomics * MeSH
- Oral Submucous Fibrosis * genetics MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Cultural practices may compromise the accuracy of salivary hormone measurements and must be considered when designing human biology research protocols. This study aims to evaluate the acute effect of one common human practice-chewing betel nut-on the measurement of salivary cortisol levels under field conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from 17 adult habitual betel nut users (males = 11; females = 6; mean age = 32.8 years) from a small rural community in Papua New Guinea. Saliva was collected in time series from each participant before and at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 min after chewing betel nut. Samples were analyzed by radioimmunoassay and cortisol levels were compared across time using linear mixed effects modeling. RESULTS: Measured mean cortisol concentration fell nearly 40% immediately following betel nut use and remained significantly below baseline levels for the following 45 min (all P < 0.05). Cortisol concentrations measured at 60 min and 75 min were indistinguishable from baseline levels (all P > 0.16). DISCUSSION: Chewing betel nut is associated with a transient but significant reduction in measured levels of salivary cortisol. Future research must take this into account in populations where betel nut use is prevalent.
- MeSH
- Areca * MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Hydrocortisone analysis MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Radioimmunoassay MeSH
- Saliva chemistry MeSH
- Mastication MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Papua New Guinea MeSH
- MeSH
- alpha-Tocopherol * MeSH
- Anticholesteremic Agents * administration & dosage pharmacology MeSH
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents * administration & dosage pharmacology chemistry therapeutic use MeSH
- Antioxidants * MeSH
- Areca * MeSH
- Atherosclerosis * diet therapy drug therapy MeSH
- Cell Membrane * physiology chemistry classification drug effects MeSH
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 * MeSH
- Epidemiologic Studies * MeSH
- NF-E2-Related Factor 2 * physiology drug effects MeSH
- Mitochondria, Liver * drug effects MeSH
- Edible Grain * MeSH
- Cardiovascular Diseases * diet therapy drug therapy MeSH
- Clinical Trials as Topic * MeSH
- Rabbits MeSH
- Animals, Laboratory MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Lipoproteins, LDL * drug effects MeSH
- Mitochondria * drug effects MeSH
- Brain * drug effects MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Plant Oils * pharmacology chemistry therapeutic use MeSH
- Oxidative Stress * physiology drug effects MeSH
- Lipid Peroxidation * physiology drug effects MeSH
- Rats, Wistar MeSH
- Dietary Fiber * MeSH
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical * MeSH
- Oryza * MeSH
- Free Radical Scavengers MeSH
- Seeds * chemistry MeSH
- Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System * metabolism drug effects MeSH
- Tocotrienols * administration & dosage pharmacology chemistry classification metabolism therapeutic use MeSH
- Vitamin E * administration & dosage pharmacology chemistry therapeutic use MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rabbits MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Publication type
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- MeSH
- Areca adverse effects MeSH
- Tooth Erosion chemically induced nursing MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Oral Hygiene MeSH
- Oral Health MeSH
- Mastication ethnology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Geographicals
- Palau MeSH
- MeSH
- Areca MeSH
- beta Carotene MeSH
- Chromosome Aberrations MeSH
- Carcinogens antagonists & inhibitors toxicity MeSH
- Cricetinae MeSH
- Neoplasms genetics chemically induced prevention & control MeSH
- Nicotiana MeSH
- In Vitro Techniques MeSH
- Tretinoin MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Cricetinae MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Comparative Study MeSH
