Anti-hypoxic pharmacological effects of betelnut polyphenols / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Areca catechu L. medicinal materials and their preparations are widely used in clinical practice. Betelnut polyphenol is one of the main chemical components with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. With continuous increase of high altitude activities, tissue oxidative damage caused by high altitude hypoxia seriously affects the ability to work, and the studies on anti-hypoxia drugs are particularly important. Recent studies have shown that betelnut polyphenols have protective effects on oxidative stress injury caused by hypoxia via improving blood gas index of hypoxic organism, increasing superoxide dismutase glutathione catalase activity, and scavenging excessive free radicals. The effects of betelnut polyphenols against hypoxia and oxidative damage protection suggest that betelnut polyphenols can be used as potential anti-hypoxia drugs and posses clinical prospects.

Investigation of anti-Alzheimer's activity of aqueous extract of areca nuts (Areca catechu L): in vitro and in vivo studies / Investigación de la actividad anti-Alzheimer del extracto acuoso de nueces de areca (Areca catechu L): estudios in vitro e in vivo

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Sever cognitive and memory impairments, huge increase in the prevalence of the disease, and lacking definite cure have absorbed worldwide efforts to develop therapeutic approaches. Since many drugs have failed in the clinical trials due to multifactorial nature of AD, symptomatic treatments are still in the center attention and now, nootropic medicinal plants have been found as versatile ameliorators to reverse memory disorders. In this work, anti-Alzheimer's activity of aqueous extract of areca nuts (Areca catechu L.) was investigated via in vitro and in vivo studies. It depicted good amyloid ß (Aß) aggregation inhibitory activity, 82% at 100 µg/mL. In addition, it inhibited beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) with IC50 value of 19.03 µg/mL. Evaluation of neuroprotectivity of the aqueous extract of the plant against H2O2-induced cell death in PC12 neurons revealed 84.5% protection at 1 µg/mL. It should be noted that according to our results obtained from Morris Water Maze (MWM) test, the extract reversed scopolamine-induced memory deficit in rats at concentrations of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg.

La enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) es un trastorno neurodegenerativo relacionado con la edad. Los severos deterioros cognitivos y de la memoria, el enorme aumento de la prevalencia de la enfermedad y la falta de una cura definitiva han absorbido los esfuerzos mundiales para desarrollar enfoques terapéuticos. Dado que muchos fármacos han fallado en los ensayos clínicos debido a la naturaleza multifactorial de la EA, los tratamientos sintomáticos siguen siendo el centro de atención y ahora, las plantas medicinales nootrópicas se han encontrado como mejoradores versátiles para revertir los trastornos de la memoria. En este trabajo, se investigó la actividad anti-Alzheimer del extracto acuoso de nueces de areca (Areca catechu L.) mediante estudios in vitro e in vivo. Representaba una buena actividad inhibidora de la agregación de amiloide ß (Aß), 82% a 100 µg/mL. Además, inhibió la beta-secretasa 1 (BACE1) con un valor de CI50 de 19,03 µg/mL. La evaluación de la neuroprotección del extracto acuoso de la planta contra la muerte celular inducida por H2O2 en neuronas PC12 reveló una protección del 84,5% a 1 µg/mL. Cabe señalar que, de acuerdo con nuestros resultados obtenidos de la prueba Morris Water Maze (MWM), el extracto revirtió el déficit de memoria inducido por escopolamina en ratas a concentraciones de 1,5 y 3 mg/kg.

Mixture of betel leaf, areca nut and tobacco chewing is a risk factor for cytogenetic damage in construction workers from south India

Aim: To determine the cytogenetic effect of betel leaf, areca nut and tobacco mixture usage among female construction workers in Tamilnadu, Southern India. Methods: Totally 236 buccal cells and blood samples were collected from 80 betel quid users and 76 users with tobacco snuffing habit which were compared with 80 healthy subjects. Peripheral blood leukocyte cultures were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations (CA) and exfoliated cells from the buccal mucosa were examined for micronucleus (MN). Results: Statistically significant (p<0.01) increase in CA and MN were observed in users with snuffing habit when compared to users without snuffing habit and controls as confirmed by chi-square test. Therefore, specific biomarkers on cytogenetic endpoints might help in planning precautionary measures to reduce oral cancer risks. Conclusions: The present study can be concluded that a mixture of betel quid, areca nut and tobacco chewing/snuffing is unsafe for oral health. The genotoxic effect of smokeless tobacco should be considered in addition to other known hazards for assessing health risks.

Effect of glutathione on arecanut treated normal human buccal fibroblast culture.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have shown arecanut to be a cytotoxic substance with mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of glutathione on arecanut treated human buccal fibroblast culture and its potential as a chemopreventive agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fibroblast culture was done in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium MEM) supplemented with 10% Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) and antibiotic at 370C degrees in an atmosphere of 5% carbon di-oxide and 95% air. The fibroblast cells were subjected to different concentrations of aqueous extracts of raw and boiled arecanut. Fibroblasts were plated in two 24-well culture plates and in each plate, cells were dividt,ednto 2 groups; 600gg microml of reduced glutathione was added to the first group of cells; subsequently, aqueous extracts of raw and boiled arecanut at least and highest concentrations i.e., 20j. microml and 100lg microml were added to the first group of cells in the respective plates whereas the second group served as a control. The morphological alterations and cell survival were assayed at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Results Morphologically, the initial (10 hours) attached fibroblast cells were converted from spheroidal shape towards hexagonal and finally to a fully extended spindle shaped configuration. The three morphological types of fibroblasts at 48 hours were F-I, F-II and F-III. Aqueous extract of raw arecanut exhibited significant cytotoxicity (p < .0 001) at all time periods studied, when compared against the control values of untreated fibroblasts. Addition of reduced glutathione to cultures showed a significant (p < 0. 001) reduction in cytotoxicity, as indicated by higher optical density values and morphological reversion to the spindle-shaped configuration. CoCONCLUSION:Addition of glutathione reduced the cytotoxic and morphological alterations of the fibroblasts treated with aqueous extracts of both raw and boiled arecanut.

Preventing the oral cavity cancer epidemic.

Bhurgri Y (2005) have studied the time trends in the site specific oral cancer incidence in the Karachi South, a sample population of Pakistan with a representation of all ethnic and socio-economic groups of the country. Oral cancer ranks 6th world-wide. However, 58% of the cases are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia (Nair et al; 2004). In Karachi, it ranks 2nd in all malignancies among both males and females, with the highest reported incidence in the world. In the absence of alcohol use, chewing of products of betel, areca and tobacco remain the main etiological risk factors. These products include paan, chaalia, gutka and naswar. Because of the ancient history of these products, their use is socially acceptable in all sections of South Asian society.

Medicinal uses of date fruit [phoenix dactylifera linn.] in district Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan.

Date is a very delicious fruit. It contains high nutritional and medicinal value and is also a cheaper source of energy and nutrients. The local inhabitants/herbalists [Hakeems] of this area employ this fruit as a natural medicine in different disorders particularly in general debility. Interviews with known elderly people and herbal practitioners were carried out to determine medicinal value of this fruit. This paper reports literature survey and its local uses in order to check its efficacy in various complaints