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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

The effect of baked areca nut extract on the growth of buccal mucosa fibroblasts from healthy non-areca nut chewers.

Oral submucous fibrosis is a serious oral disease associated with the habit of chewing areca nut. The habit is relatively common among South Africans of Indian descent. The aim of this study was to observe the effect on growth of buccal mucosa fibroblasts derived from healthy individuals not practising the areca nut habit when the cells are exposed to nut extract. Fibroblast cell-lines from 6 individuals were grown in medium without extract and medium containing 50 and 100 [symbol: see text] g/ml extract of baked nut for 8 days. Cells not exposed to the nut extract behaved homogeneously. Reaction to the nut extracts, however, was dissimilar. The cells of 5 individuals showed no discernable reaction to the extracts while in one instance, the cells of a healthy adult male with no physical disabilities, showed marked growth inhibition. Thus, the finding indicates that when the effect of the nut or its constituents are tested on cells, it is necessary to use several cell-lines of the same cell type or a cell-line of which the growth parameters are standardized.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Areca quid chewing and methamphetamine use in Taiwanese adolescents.

The association between areca quid chewing and methamphetamine (MAMP) use in Taiwanese adolescents was examined in 200 MAMP users and 400 non-users. Subjects were interviewed individually regarding the experience of chewing areca quid and the evidence of lifetime areca quid use disorder. The ages at which they initially chewed areca quid and used MAMP were also evaluated. The results revealed that areca quid chewing and areca quid use disorders were more common in both male and female MAMP users than in non-users. Among those who chewed areca quid and used MAMP, the mean age at initial MAMP use was older than the mean age at initial chewing of areca quid in males but not in females. MAMP users who chewed areca quid were subdivided into three groups according to the sequence of initial MAMP use and chewing areca quid. Although most males and females started chewing areca quid before using MAMP, this pattern was more prevalent in males. Adolescent MAMP users need to be educated about deleterious health sequelae caused by chewing areca quid. Adolescent areca quid chewers need to be monitored for possible progression to MAMP use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of a self-rating screening test for areca quid abusers in Taiwan.

Areca quid chewing is a popular habit and areca is a well-known ethnopsychopharmalogic agent in southeast Asia. While the chewing habit is legal and also socially acceptable in many places of Taiwan, the public health problem of high oral cancer incidence has remained a priority on the health care list in our local health department. Helping areca quid chewers to reduce or even stop the habit will be paramount in the oral cancer prevention programme. Hence, in order to identify the appropriate strategy for stopping the chewing habit, it is important to distinguish whether an areca quid chewer has reached the level of substance abuse.In accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental disorder (fourth edition, DSM-IV), we developed a specific self-report questionnaire modified from the famous SCAN system, DSM-IV and ICD-10. The initial screening test for areca quid abusers had 52 questions. Its components included the onset age and frequency, subjective craving and feeling, social problems, physical problems, oral symptoms, psychological and abstinence-related problems, the motivation and capacity to abstain, and demographic data. The answers were divided into 'Yes' or 'No'. One hundred and twenty-five areca quid users (53 men, 72 women) were recruited. The abusers tended to have older age, less education, and higher daily consumption of areca quid. There were no differences on motivation to quit chewing (abstinence) between abusers and non-abusers. There were no statistical differences on tobacco-smoking and alcohol-drinking behavior. Based on the statistical analysis of receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves, 11 questions were chosen for the Self-report Screening Test for Areca quid Abuser (SSTAA). An areca quid chewer's answers with a score of 4 or more in these 11 questions would be considered an areca quid abuser. The modified process of SSTAA is performed for the evaluation of the native culture-related substance user. At this current stage, the SSTAA developed from the study is the first instrument for screening areca quid abuser.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Addicted schoolchildren: prevalence and characteristics of areca nut chewers among primary school children in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the habits of betel quid use and areca nut chewing among school-aged children in Karachi, Pakistan. Areca nut (betel nut) is chewed by itself, in various scented preparations, and in betel quid (containing betel leaf, areca nut, slaked lime, condiments, sweeteners and sometimes tobacco) in various parts of Pakistan and India. It is associated with carcinogenesis, foreign body aspiration in children and oral submucous fibrosis, and may aggravate asthma. METHODS: We selected a stratified random sample of 160 primary school children between 4 and 16 years of age in Baba Island, Karachi. RESULTS: Seventy-four per cent of the children (118/159) used areca nut and 35% (55/159) used betel quid daily. More boys chewed areca nut than girls (72% vs 30%). The proportion of areca nut users increased by grade (from 48% in first grade to 90% in fifth grade). Most areca users first tried it with a family member (42%) or a friend (26%), and most (68%) consumed three or more packets a day. Children with fathers with three or fewer years of education were more likely to use areca nut (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.2-8.4), and children whose mothers helped with homework less likely (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.2-0.91; P = 0.027) to use it. Boys (OR 6.6; 95% CI 2.3-18.7) and areca nut users (OR 8.8; 95% CI2.8-27.0) were more likely to use betel quid. CONCLUSION: To reduce the use of areca nut, the Pakistan Government should consider imposing taxes on it, limiting advertising and actively communicating its health risks to the public.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anthropometric status and resting metabolic rate in users of the areca nut and smokers of tobacco in rural Sarawak.

The areca nut is chewed by many of the world's population, mainly in South and Southeast Asia. Anthropometric data for 458 Sarawaki adults aged over 24 years, measured both in 1990 and in 1996, were examined in relation to use of tobacco and areca nut. Compared to non-smokers, smoking men were significantly taller and slightly (not significantly) thinner in both years, while smoking women were thinner in 1990 and slightly (not significantly) thinner in 1996. In both sexes there was an increase in the mean and range of body mass index (BMI, W/H2) over the 6-year interval. Smoking women showed a significantly smaller increment in BMI after allowing for areca nut use, which was associated with a similar trend, and this finding depended on including areca use in the model. The trend for men was similar. Possible effects of areca use could reflect variation in 'affluence' or conservatism, or appetite suppression. However, resting metabolic rate in 54 men and 70 women aged 24-60 years was associated with areca use. This association appeared to be mediated by the maximum room temperature of the 24 h preceding measurement. In women, a significant curvilinear association of RMR with maximum temperature was found in users of areca nut but not in non-users. In men, RMR was 7% higher (p < 0.05) in users of areca nut than in non-users, after allowing for age, height, weight, the sum of four skinfold thicknesses, and haemoglobin, but the association with maximum temperature was similar in both groups. It is speculated that constituents of areca nut modulate thermoregulatory pathways, resulting in prolonged temperature-dependent and hyperthermic heat production in this population; that males are more responsive to this effect than females; and that by this mechanism, and possibly also through centrally mediated effects on appetite for food, areca use could contribute to long-term variation in energy balance represented by change in BMI.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Socio-economic aspects of areca nut use.

The socio-economic aspects of areca nut consumption have been overlooked. A narrative review was conducted to establish some of these features of areca nut consumption. Medline, Pubmed and the World Wide Web were searched using the terms: areca nut, betel nut, areca catechu and pan masala. Further analysis was conducted of datasets describing aspects of United Kingdom areca nut sales and consumption. South Asian economies at different stages of development have varying areca nut cultivation practices, employment opportunities and marketing strategies. Attempts at regulation of areca nut import and sales are described. Retail practice among the South Asian communities of the United Kingdom was found to reflect the diverse consumer practices current in their countries of origin. A study of areca nut consumption patterns and motivations among Bangladeshi women resident in East London identified differences between those chewing areca nut in paan with and without tobacco. Further research into the socio-economic aspects of areca nut consumption is needed which should be multidisciplinary in focus, of sound scientific quality and incorporating the opinions of consumers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Inhibitory effects of areca nut extracts on phagocytosis of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 33384 by neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Areca quid chewers have a higher prevalence of periodontal disease than non-chewers. Little is known about the influence of areca quid on the immune system. This study was to determine the possible effects of the areca nut on phagocytic activity of human neutrophils. METHODS: Aqueous extracts of ripe areca nut without husk (rANE), fresh and tender areca nut with husk (tANE), a major alkaloid (arecoline), and a phenolic component ([+]-catechin) of areca nut were examined for their effects on cellular viability using trypan blue exclusion assay. The possible effects on the phagocytic activity of neutrophils against a periodontal pathogen, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 33384, were determined using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: At the concentrations tested, rANE, tANE, arecoline, and (+)-catechin did not significantly affect viability of neutrophils. However, rANE, tANE, arecoline, and (+)-catechin inhibited the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. Approximately 50% of the relative phagocytic activity of neutrophils was affected when 50 microg/ml of rANE, 400 microg/ml of tANE, 20,000 microg/ml of arecoline, or 2,500 microg/ml of (+)- catechin was used. Decreased levels of internalized fluorescent bacteria were also demonstrated. However, arecoline or (+)-catechin alone could not be used to explain the inhibitory effects observed for rANE and tANE. CONCLUSIONS: Components of areca nut reduced the uptake of A. actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 33384 by human neutrophils. The inhibition of areca nut on phagocytosis of neutrophils may be one possible mechanism by which the areca nut compromises the periodontal health of areca quid chewers.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗
PubMed2004

A population-based study of the association between areca nut chewing and type 2 diabetes mellitus in men (Keelung Community-based Integrated Screening programme No. 2).

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to assess whether the diabetogenicity of areca nut (Areca catechu or 'betel-nut'), which has previously been demonstrated experimentally in mice, independently contributes to the risk of hyperglycaemia or type 2 diabetes in men in Taiwan, where the habit has become established relatively recently. METHODS: We used data from a population-based cross-sectional survey and a multiple-disease-screening programme that tested for hyperglycaemia, type 2 diabetes and risk factors related to type 2 diabetes. Data on habitual areca nut chewing were available for 14,816 men. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine whether areca nut chewing was an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Compared with non-chewers, areca nut chewers had higher age-adjusted prevalence rates for hyperglycaemia (11.4% vs 8.7%) and type 2 diabetes (10.3% vs 7.8%). Areca nut chewing independently increased the risk of hyperglycaemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% CI 0.97-1.45) and type 2 diabetes (adjusted OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.60). The independent effects of duration of chewing were dose-dependent for type 2 diabetes (adjusted OR 1.32 for the duration of 10-19 years and 1.41 for the duration of > or =20 years), as were the effects of increased rates of areca nut chewing (adjusted OR 1.14 for <10 pieces/day, 1.30 for 10-19 pieces/day and 2.02 for > or =20 pieces/day); similar findings were noted for hyperglycaemia. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The habit of chewing areca nut independently contributes to the risk of both hyperglycaemia and type 2 diabetes in Taiwanese men. This association is dose-dependent with respect to the duration of areca nut use and the quantity of areca nut chewed per day.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Safrole-DNA adducts in tissues from esophageal cancer patients: clues to areca-related esophageal carcinogenesis.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that areca quid chewing can be an independent risk factor for developing esophageal cancer. However, no studies are available to elucidate the mechanisms of how areca induces carcinogenesis in the esophagus. Since the areca nut in Taiwan contains a high concentration of safrole, a well-known carcinogenic agent, we analyzed safrole-DNA adducts by the 32P-postlabelling method in tissue specimens from esophageal cancer patients. In total, we evaluated 47 patients with esophageal cancer (16 areca chewers and 31 non-chewers) who underwent esophagectomy at the National Taiwan University Hospital between 1996 and 2002. Of the individuals with a history of habitual areca chewing (14 cigarette smokers and two non-smokers), one of the tumor tissue samples and five of the normal esophageal mucosa samples were positive for safrole-DNA adducts. All patients positive for safrole-DNA adducts were also cigarette smokers. Such adducts could not be found in patients who did not chew areca, irrespective of their habits of alcohol consumption or cigarette smoking (p<0.001, comparing the areca chewers with non-chewers). The genotoxicity of safrole was also tested in vitro in three esophageal cell lines and four cultures of primary esophageal keratinocytes. In two of the esophageal keratinocyte cultures, adduct formation was increased by treatment with safrole after induction of cytochrome P450 by 3-methyl-cholanthrene. This paper provides the first observation of how areca induces esophageal carcinogenesis, i.e., through the genotoxicity of safrole, a component of the areca juice.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence and characteristics of areca nut chewers among junior high school students in Changhua county, Taiwan.

Some studies indicate that betel quid and its ingredients chewing can produce cell mutagenicity and tumorigenicity. In Taiwan studies, betel quid chewing is the main cause of submucous fibrosis and oral cancer. Understanding the distribution and characteristics of the areca nut chewing population is one of the first steps in the effort to prevent these oral diseases. A stratified cluster random sample of 2442 junior high school students in Changhua county, Taiwan, were surveyed for the habit of areca nut chewing. Significantly more male students chewed areca nut than female students (9.2% vs 0.9%). The proportion of students who were chewing areca nuts increased with increasing (seventh to ninth) grades. Areca nut was used by junior high school students at a higher rate in village (rural) areas as compared to town (semi-urban) and city (urban) areas (6.4%, 3.7% and 3.0%, respectively). More students in the ordinary achievement classes were chewing areca nuts than those in the high achievement classes (8.4% vs 1.6%). Areca nut chewing students tended to have users in their families. Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking were positively associated with areca nut chewing. More than half (53.6%) of the areca nut chewing students first experimented with this habit with a family member, most often the father or grandfather.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Areca nut extracts reduce the intracellular reactive oxygen species and release of myeloperoxidase by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) represent the first line of host defense. Areca nut extract inhibits the bactericidal activity of, and the release of superoxide anion (O2- ) by, PMN. This study investigated the effects of areca nut extract on the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and on the extracellular release of lysosomal enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), by PMN. The effects of arecoline, a principal component of areca nut, were also examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human PMN were treated with various concentrations of areca nut extract or arecoline followed by treatment with Hanks' balanced salt solution, with or without cytochalasin B and fMet-Leu-Phe (CB/fMLP). The viability of PMN was determined using propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. The presence of intracellular ROS was determined using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and fluorometry. MPO release was determined using a substrate assay. RESULTS: Areca nut extract (25 and 50 microg/ml) significantly decreased the viability of PMN. The intracellular levels of ROS and the extracellular release of MPO were induced in PMN by CB/fMLP. Exposure of PMN to areca nut extract (up to 25 microg/ml) or to arecoline (up to 2 mg/ml) did not directly affect the levels of ROS and MPO activity. However, under conditions that did not affect the viability of PMN, the ability of CB/fMLP to trigger production of intracellular ROS and release of MPO in human PMN was significantly suppressed by areca nut extract and arecoline. CONCLUSION: Areca nut impaired the activation of PMN by CB/fMLP that might decrease the effectiveness of PMN in the host defense. Alternatively, exposure of PMN to areca nut extract could decrease the capacity of PMN to damage tissues.

Areca↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence and related risk factors of areca quid chewing among junior high students in eastern Taiwan.

Areca quid chewing is a serious problem in eastern Taiwan. The prevalence and related risk factors of areca quid chewing among junior high students were studied. Group 1 consisted of 896 non-aboriginal students and group 2 of 565 aboriginal students. The students were asked to fill out a questionnaire anonymously. Among the non-aboriginal students, 2.2% were found as current areca quid chewers, 16.4% had tried but not become regular users, and 2.2% had used it regularly and quit, whereas 9.7% of aboriginal students were current chewers, and 32.7% had tried it but had not become regular users, and 7.4% had used it regularly and quit. The prevalence of areca chewing is significantly different between boys and girls in the non-aboriginal group. A logistic regression analysis indicated that a non-aboriginal student who is a male, grows areca at home, is a tobacco smoker, an alcohol drinker, and has family members and close friends as chewers is more likely to chew areca quid than others. Aboriginal students who are chewers are likely to grow areca at home, are tobacco smokers and alcohol drinkers, and have family members and close friends as chewers. Based on the findings of the study, the need for a health promotion program was identified. Areca quid is not only detrimental to people's health, but also to the environment in which people live.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Tumorigenicity study in Syrian hamsters fed areca nut together with nitrite.

In order to evaluate the effect of concurrent administration of areca nut and sodium nitrite, a long-term feeding study was conducted with 120 Syrian hamsters. The animals were divided into four treatment groups, each consisting of 15 males and 15 females, and received 2 g/kg diet of sodium nitrite (group I), 20 g/kg diet of powdered areca nut (group II), 2 g/kg diet of sodium nitrite plus 20 g/kg diet of areca nut (group III) or powdered diet only (group IV) throughout their lifetime. Urine samples from all groups were analysed for N-nitrosonipecotic acid (NNIP), a major urinary metabolite of areca-nut-derived nitrosamines. NNIP was only detected in the urine of hamsters fed nitrite plus areca nut (concentration: 1.9 +/- 0.9 ng/ml urine), indicating that areca nut alkaloids underwent in vivo nitrosation to form areca-nut-specific nitrosamines. The total tumour response was not significantly elevated in groups II and III. Hamsters of group III had a markedly, but also insignificantly higher frequency of malignant tumours than those of the other groups, with a statistically significant increase in malignant lymphomas in the males. Although limited by the low number of animals per group, these results indicate that exposure to nitrite together with areca nut constituents appears to enhance the risk of developing malignancies.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Lower absorption of cholesteryl oleate in rats supplemented with Areca catechu L. extract.

Areca catechu L. extracts I and II, prepared using two different solvent systems, exhibited strong inhibitory activities against pancreatic cholesterol esterase (pCEase) in vitro. To determine their cholesterol-lowering effects, these two extracts were investigated by analyzing plasma lipid levels, intestinal enzyme activities, and the absorption of cholesteryl oleate. For 6 days, male rats were fed a diet containing cholesteryl oleate (0.5 g/100 g of body weight) either with or without the Areca nut extract supplements. The supplementation of the two Areca nut extracts significantly lowered the concentrations of plasma cholesterol by 13. 4 and 11.7% and plasma triglycerides by 35.0 and 36.9%, respectively, compared with the pre-experimental values. However, when the cholesteryl oleate diet was fed without any Areca nut extract in high-cholesterol control, the plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations significantly increased by 13.6 and 15.9%, respectively, compared with the pre-experimental values. After 6 days of treatment, the intestinal pCEase activities were significantly lower in the groups supplemented with the Areca nut extracts (37.8 and 26.5%) than in the group with no extract supplement (83.2%). The supplements also significantly elevated the excretion of [1,2(n)-(3)H]cholesteryl oleate administered orally, when determined by the large intestinal contents, 930.5 Bq/day (Areca I) and 1,766.3 Bq/day (Areca II) vs. 98.1 Bq/day (high-cholesteryl oleate (CO) control). The inhibition of pCEase activity with the supplementation of the Areca nut extracts could account for the decrease in [1,2(n)-(3)H]cholesteryl oleate absorption that resulted in decreased radioactivity in blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Antihypertensive substance in seeds of Areca catechu L.

Among various tannins tested, Areca II-5-C, a fraction isolated from seeds of Areca catechu L., showed the most potent angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in vitro. Its antihypertensive activity was therefore investigated in normotensive and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) after both oral and intravenous (i.v.) administration. The activity was compared with that of captopril (D-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl-L-proline), a potent ACE inhibitor. Oral administration of Areca II-5-C to SHR produced a lasting, dose-related antihypertensive effect, and the responses obtained with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg were comparable to those of captopril at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg. Intravenous administration of Areca II-5-C to SHR produced a rapid and marked reduction in blood pressure at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg. The maximum antihypertensive effect of Areca II-5-C in SHR, at an i.v. dose of 15 mg/kg, was about 5 times as large as that of captopril at the same dose. Although the vasopressor response to norepinephrine and vasodepressor responses to bradykinin and acetylcholine were not appreciably changed by i.v. treatment with Areca II-5-C at a dose of 5 mg/kg, it did produce dose-related inhibition of the pressor responses to angiotensin I and II. It is suggested that Areca II-5-C has favorable properties as a hypotensive drug through its ability to inhibit the pressor responses to both angiotensin I and II.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed2006

The outcome expectancy model for areca-quid chewing behavior.

Outcome expectancies as regards areca-quid chewing played an important role in areca-quid addiction. In this study, areca-quid user expectancies will be explored. A total of 179 adolescents selected from high school completed the areca-quid chewing expectancy questionnaire and related chewing-behavior scale. Three factors (physical/emotional reward, negative consequences and social benefit) relating to areca-quid chewing behavior were explored by factor analysis and the two-dimensional model of chewing expectancy (positive-negative effect of chewing and physical-social reaction to chewing) was found using non-metric multi-dimensional scaling. The structure of the areca-quid chewing expectancy was determined for an adolescent group and the social factors involved in areca-quid chewing clearly warrant further investigation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Absorption of intestinal free cholesterol is lowered by supplementation of Areca catechu L. extract in rats.

Areca extracts exhibiting a strong inhibitory activity against pancreatic cholesterol esterase (pCEase) in vitro were previously found to lower the absorption of dietary cholesteryl ester. Therefore, to determine whether a combined Areca extract also affects the absorption of intestinal free cholesterol, male rats were fed a diet containing free cholesterol (1%, w/w) either with or without an Areca nut extract supplement (0.5%, w/w). The Areca extract supplement significantly lowered the plasma cholesterol concentration by 25% without any change in the plasma triglyceride concentration, when compared to the control group. The supplement also significantly lowered the small intestinal pCEase activity by 39.1% compared to that of the control group. As regards the hepatic and intestinal ACAT activities, only the intestinal enzyme activity was significantly lowered by the supplement, when compared to the control group. The absorbed cholesterol that appeared in the blood after an oral dose of [1,2(n)-3H] free cholesterol was significantly lower in the rats supplemented with the Areca nut extract, compared with the control group. These results suggest that the inhibition of intestinal ACAT and possibly pCEase may facilitate the metabolic efficiency of the Areca nut extract as regards the absorption of intestinal free cholesterol. The structure and chemical properties of the active compound in the water-soluble Areca extract remain to be elucidated.

Animals↗