Cracking the Betel Nut: Cholinergic Activity of Areca Alkaloids and Related Compounds.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:The use of betel quid is the most understudied major addiction in the world. The neuropsychological activity of betel quid has been attributed to alkaloids of Areca catechu. With the goal of developing novel addiction treatments, we evaluate the muscarinic and nicotinic activity of the four major Areca alkaloids: arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline, and guvacine and four structurally related compounds. METHODS:Acetylcholine receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied with two-electrode voltage clamp. RESULTS:Both arecoline- and guvacoline-activated muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR), while only arecoline produced significant activation of nicotinic AChR (nAChR). We characterized four additional arecoline-related compounds, seeking an analog that would retain

SUBMITTER: Horenstein NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6528145 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature