Areca Nut Research Articles

Profile microsatellite mining of whole genome sequencing and transcriptomic assembly in dwarf and tall areca nut (Areca catechu) in Indonesia

Abstract. Romadhon MR, Sobir, Suwarno WB, Matra DD. 2024. Profile microsatellite mining of whole genome sequencing and transcriptomic assembly in dwarf and tall areca nut (Areca catechu L.) in Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1081-1088. Areca nut (Areca catechu L.) has high diversity in fruit shape and flowering time. Two superior varieties are commonly cultivated in Indonesia, namely Betara areca nut (tall) and Emas areca nut (dwarf). Molecular level diversity from genomic and transcriptome of areca nut data is available at NCBI, but not yet for Indonesian areca nut. The research compared the results of SSR with two method approaches to detect genetic diversity in the plants accurately. This study aimed to compare the SSR motifs of Betara areca nut and Emas areca nut varieties from whole genome sequencing and transcriptome assembly. The research was conducted at the Leuwikopo Seed Centre Laboratory of the IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia. The methods used are Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and transcriptome assembly. A total number of identified SSRs from WGS approach from Betara areca nut of 95 SSRs and Emas areca nut of 95 SSRs, while Betara areca nut SSRs from transcriptome assembly of 466 SSRs and Emas areca nut of 357 SSRs. The percentage of contigs and transcripts from Betara areca nut containing SSR was 7.43% and 4.22%, respectively, while Emas areca nut was 8.06% and 2.04%, respectively. AT is the dominant SSR motif in WGS, while the GA motif dominates the transcriptome assembly results.

Understanding the transition of community land use from shifting cultivation to cash cropping in southern Tanintharyi, Myanmar

Abstract Many tropical landscapes have experienced the loss of traditional cultivation practices as they have transitioned to other land use systems. The Tanintharyi Region of southern Myanmar is a landscape experiencing a rapid land use regime shift from traditional subsistence farming to permanent cash crop agriculture. Despite previous research in this region on the expansion of large‐scale agribusiness, such as oil palm and rubber plantations, little is known about how the small‐scale shifting cultivation system practiced by the local Karen ethnic people in Tanintharyi has changed over recent decades or the underlying reasons for this transition. Our study explores this transition process and its drivers from a social and land system change perspective in four villages of Bokpyin Township in Tanintharyi. We investigated the drivers of land cover and land use change by collecting information through focus groups and individual interviews with community members who previously practised shifting cultivation. We also quantified the overall change in land cover and land use through remote sensing analysis of Landsat 8 (2020) and declassified KH‐9 satellite imagery (1976). Prior to a period of civil war in the 1980s, cultivators used a traditional ‘slash‐and‐burn’ agricultural system for subsistence use. The present land use system is dominated by permanent betel nut cultivation, which represents the primary income source for farming households. The reported drivers of the transition to cash crop farming are greater income potential and livelihood security, risk of losing fallow land due to the needs for new cultivation areas for in‐migration and new centralized land use policies and administration after the national ceasefire agreement in 2012. The documented change in land use systems has been paired with a concurrent net loss of forest that, given the conflicted governance within the landscape, seems likely to continue without additional land use planning efforts. Our study contributes to an increased understanding of changes in shifting cultivation systems that are being documented globally. Furthermore, our example of combining qualitative interviews with analysis of historical satellite imagery to detect and explain land use regime shifts can serve as a model for future work in different landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Abstract 5694: Elucidating areca nut-induced miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in head and neck cancer pathogenesis

Abstract Areca nut has been considered a high-risk carcinogen for head and neck cancer (HNC) in Southeast Asia, while its molecular effects, especially on the miRNA regulatory roles, remain elusive. This study characterized miRNA-mRNA networks associated with areca nut-related HNC. We integratively analyzed the areca nut-induced mRNA profile and TCGA-HNSC gene set. A total of 2575 genes were identified, with 1971 upregulated and 604 downregulated in cancers. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed that these genes were enriched in the cellular functions related to motility and stress response. Experimental studies confirmed that arecoline promoted cell migration, invasion, and chemo-radioresistance. We further cross-analyzed the miRNAs induced by areca nut and dysregulated in TCGA-HNSC data and defined 71 molecules affected, with 35 upregulation and 36 downregulation. Using the multimiR tool to map potential mRNA-miRNA interactions, we uncovered that these miRNAs were connected to 2173 genes. These molecules participated in several oncogenic mechanisms, such as ErbB and PI3K-Akt signaling, cell adhesion, and DNA damage response. We endeavored to establish miRNA-mRNA interaction networks with the functions of cellular motility and stress response via the Cytoscape analytical method. Our data revealed nexus comprising 41 miRNAs with 83 mRNAs, and 38 miRNAs with 66 mRNAs, respectively, co-regulate these two malignant functions. A key miRNA, miR-410-3p, downregulated in HNC and decreased following areca nut treatment, was studied. Ectopic expression of miR-410-3p attenuated areca nut-induced cell invasion and exerted modulatory effects on its target oncogenes, CRK. Thus, our study delineates a comprehensive view of the miRNA-mRNA interplay altered by areca nut, illustrating a sophisticated mechanism of carcinogenesis and suggesting new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in HNC. Citation Format: Hung-Han Huang, Guo-Rung You, Kai-Hsin Lin, Yin-Ju Chen, Ann-Joy Cheng. Elucidating areca nut-induced miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in head and neck cancer pathogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5694.

Abstract 1111: Poor radiation sensitivity and potential radiosensitizers for betel-nuts related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan

Abstract Background: Betel nut chewing might contribute to strong invasion & treatment refractoriness in HNSCC from Taiwan. Betel-nuts exposed HNSCC cell line, TW2.6, had high PDL1, defective p53 mutation, p16 loss, & BCL2 overexpression. In our studies, PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis therapies, CDK4/6 inhibitors, DDR interventions, epigenetic modifications, and immunotherapy-containing regimens will be future combination options. The genomic signature of TW2.6 has been figured out in our study(AACR2020 & 2023), too, mainly with PIK3CA H1047R mutation, high TMB(8.42 muts/Mb)/MSS, VEGF-A amplification, p53/MYC/HRAS/DDR2/PDGFRbeta/EPHB1/ATM mutations, FAT1 loss, amplification of TERT/FGF10/CCND3/SOX9/IL-7R/SDHA/RICTOR/FLCN, CDK12/PTPRD loss of function, CDK8 mutation, & deletions of STK11/ARID1B/MITF/TNFAIP3 and molecularly-guided novel interventions will be designed. Purpose & Methods: Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor(volasertib), gluconate(blocking citrate transport & glucose metabolism), IAP inhibitor(Debio1143), glutaminase 1 inhibitor(CB839) were tested on TW2.6 to evaluate synergistic effects with radiation. Results: TW2.6 was resistant to volasertib, gluconate, or radiation alone; but sensitive to Debio1143 and CB839. Volasertib significantly enhanced radiation. The flow cytometry revealed volasertib and radiation resulted in a significant G2/M arrest. Western blotting showed volasertib and radiation increased p-histone3, p-CDK1, & cyclin B levels and induced apoptosis. Gluconate, CB839, or Debio1143 each had significant synergistic effects with radiation. The radiosensitization efficacy would be volasertib>gluconate>CB839>Debio1143. Conclusions: In Taiwan, patients with R/M HNSCC progressing within 3 months after CCRT could be rescued by early ICIs. Recently, sequential CCRT followed by ICI or Debio-1143 with CCRT showed potential survival benefits. In our studies, novel agents such as PLK inhibitor, gluconate, and CB839 had even better radiosensitization compared with Debio1143. Sequential CCRT with novel agents followed by ICI will be the future trend, esp. in biology-aggressive betel-nuts related locally advanced HNSCC in Taiwan. Citation Format: Jo-Pai Chen, Jui-Ying Chang, Ruey-Long Hong. Poor radiation sensitivity and potential radiosensitizers for betel-nuts related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1111.

Development of Epigallocatechin 3-gallate-Loaded Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic progressive disease associated with increased collagen deposition and TGF-β1 release. The current therapy and management have been a limited success due to low efficacy and adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to evaluate epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) encapsulated nanoparticles loaded mucoadhesive hydrogel nanocomposite (HNC) for OSF. Developed HNC formulations were evaluated for their permeation behaviour using in vitro as well as ex vivo studies, followed by evaluation of efficacy and safety by in vivo studies using areca nut extract-induced OSF in rats. The disease condition in OSF-induced rats was assessed by mouth-opening and biochemical markers. The optimized polymeric nanoparticles exhibited the required particle size (162.93 ± 13.81 nm), positive zeta potential (22.50 ± 2.94 mV) with better mucoadhesive strength (0.40 ± 0.002 N), and faster permeation due to interactions of the positively charged surface with the negatively charged buccal mucosal membrane. HNC significantly improved disease conditions by reducing TGF-β1 and collagen concentration without showing toxicity and reverting the fibroid buccal mucosa to normal. Hence, the optimized formulation can be further tested to develop a clinically alternate therapeutic strategy for OSF.Graphical

Ameliorative Effect of Areca Nut Polyphenols on Adverse Effects Induced by Lipopolysaccharides in RAW264.7 Cells.

In Asian regions, areca nuts are tropical fruits that are extensively consumed. The areca nut contains a lot of polyphenols and its safety is unknown. In this research, we investigated the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and areca nut polyphenols (ANP) on normal RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that LPS stimulated adverse effects in normal cells by affecting cytokine production. The GO analysis results mainly affected DNA repair, cell division, and enzyme activities. In the KEGG analysis results, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, which is related to NF-κB, MAPK, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, is the most significant. In the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) results, significant sub-networks in all three groups were shown to be related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Collectively, our findings showed a comprehensive understanding of LPS-induced toxicity and the protective effects of ANP by RNA sequencing.

Diversity of Banana Plant Types (Musa spp) in Kuala Dua Village, Sungai Raya District, Kubu Raya Regency

This research aims to determine the diversity and relationships of banana varieties (Musa spp) based on morphological characters. This research was conducted from January to April 2023 in 4 hamlets, namely Dusun Keramat 1, Dusun Keramat ll, Dusun Karya l, and Dusun Kary ll in Kuala Dua Village, Sungai Raya District, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. There were 41 morphological characters observed including vegetative, generative and quantitative characters. Analysis of kinship relationships using the UPGMA (Unweighted Pair-wise Multivariate Analysis) method with the NTSYS ver 2.0 application is presented in the form of a dendrogram. In this research, 13 varieties were obtained, namely kapok bananas, crew bananas, 40 day bananas, cavendish bananas, green cooking bananas, chestnut bananas, mas bananas, Malaysian bananas, king bananas, areca nut bananas, Ambon bananas, red kak bananas, and prawn bananas. The results of the grouping analysis showed that 13 banana varieties had a similarity level of 39% and formed two main groups, namely groups A and B. Group A consisted of kapok bananas, crew bananas, red kak bananas, chestnut bananas, king bananas, areca nut bananas and prawn bananas. Group B consists of 40 day bananas, mas bananas, cavendish bananas, green ripe bananas and Malaysian bananas. At a similarity level of 83%, each banana variety forms a group within its respective variety.

Antidepressant-Like Activity of Methanolic Extract From Old Areca Nut Using Forced Swim Test Method In Mice (Mus Musculus) Tested Independently

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menginvestigasi potensi ekstrak metanol biji pinang tua sebagai antidepresan dengan melakukan Forced Swim Test (FST) akut dan sub-kronis. Mencit diinjeksi ekstrak metanol dosis 10, 50, dan 100 mg/kg secara intraperitoneal. Penurunan waktu imobilitas secara signifikan setelah pengobatan akut hanya disebabkan oleh dosis 100 mg/kg. Sehingga mencit diinjeksikan dosis tersebut untuk 7 hari berikutnya. Akan tetapi, dosis tersebut tidak dapat menurunkan waktu imobilitas secara signifikan berdasarkan hasil FST sub-kronis. Sehingga ekstrak metanol dosis 100 mg/kg dianggap tidak berpotensi jika digunakan secara berkelanjutan. Senyawa golongan fenolik, steroid, dan saponin sebagai konstituen utama dalam ekstrak tidak menimbulkan efek toksik setelah pengobatan selama 7 hari.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Single Institute Study

Abstract: Background: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a well-established oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) affecting people of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka because these nations have a long-standing history of chewing areca nut. Objective: The primary objective of the current study was to assess the clinical features of OSMF in patients presented to the Department of Oral Medicine, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: This study was done on OSMF patients who came to the Oral Medicine department of Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan from June 2020 to July 2021. Clinicopathological parameters of OSMF like age, gender, habits and its frequency and duration, clinical signs and symptoms and stages were recorded. Result: There were a total of 60 patients of which 35 were males and 25 were females. The mean age of study subjects was calculated to be 36.46±11.96 years. More than 50% of the participants were using a combination of various tobacco products. Most of the patients in our study were of stage III followed by stages II, I and IV. 70% of patients had buccal fibrous bands bilaterally, 36.66% of patients had tongue restriction and 60% of patients complained of burning sensation in the mouth. Conclusion: OSMF becomes a disease of the young generation with a slight male predilection. The majority of individuals suffered from a severe and advanced form of the disease. The development of diagnostic aids is necessary to stop the disease in its early stages.

Exposure assessment to areca alkaloids in the Chinese populations through areca nut chewing.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05966-6.

Arecoline induces neurotoxicity in HT22 cells via the promotion of endoplasmic reticulum stress and downregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Arecoline, the predominant bioactive substance extracted from areca nut (AN), is the world's fourth most frequently used psychoactive material. Research has revealed that chewing AN can affect the central nervous system (CNS) and may lead to neurocognitive deficits that are possibly linked to the action of arecoline. However, the mechanism behind the neurotoxicity caused by arecoline remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neurotoxic effects of arecoline and its underlying mechanism. The results showed that arecoline caused cytotoxicity against HT22 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of pro-apoptotic caspase and Bcl-2 family proteins. Furthermore, arecoline escalated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and Ca2+ concentration with increasing doses, thereby motivating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and ERS-associated apoptotic protein expression. Additionally, the study found that arecoline attenuates intracellular antioxidant defense by inhibiting the translocation of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) into the nucleus and decreasing downstream Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels. The specific inhibitor Sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) can dramatically attenuate arecoline-mediated cell apoptosis and ERS-associated apoptotic pathway expression by blocking ERS. The antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) also effectively reverses the arecoline-mediated increase of ERS-related apoptotic pathway protein levels by scavenging intracellular ROS accumulation. In conclusion, this study suggests that arecoline induces neurotoxicity in HT22 cells via ERS mediated by oxidative stress- and Ca2+ disturbance, as well as by downregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Small Scale Subsistence Farming in Nalbari District of Assam, India and the Scope of Sustainable Development of the Households

Land is the free gift of nature to man for the sustenance of life and sustainable use of land resources is an inevitable choice for sustainable development. Maintaining productive land and healthy soils to ensure food security, sustainable development and restoration of degraded land is essential for the future of mankind. Small-scale farming does not require a large amount of land and this aspect enables the development of various crops and livestock in the neighbourhood. In the present study, Nalbari district of Assam, India has been taken and most of the inhabitants of case study villages in Nalbari district make their income from small-scale farming. Diversified uses of available land is one of the significant strategy adopted by households to remain sustained in their natural and human environment in the district. The sustainable use of land resource in the study area is based on indigenous knowledge systems. To compare various indicators generated from the primary survey of this study, standardization is required and Z-transformation method is used for standardizing indicators. Level of economic sustainability is high in Paramankhow, Mohina village (0.1 and above), medium in Haribhanga, Sataibari, No.1 larkuchi village (-0.25 to 0.1) and low in Tilana, Deharkatara, Paila, kachimpur, Suplekuchi, Sandheli, Barajal, Uttarkuchi, Barkuriha, Bajaliudaypur, Kalardia, Loharkatha, Chamata, Mohkhuli, Dahudi village (Less than -0.25). Based on composite Z score value, level of environmental sustainability is not high in the case study villages in Nalbari district. The type of soils and abundant rainfall are blessing for the commercial cultivation of different subtropical fruit crops such as Banana, Assam lemon, Mandarin orange, Coconut, Areca nut, Jackfruit, Papaya, Litchi, along with spice crops like Ginger, Turmeric, Chilli, Black pepper etc. in the district. The agriculture in entire district is organic by default, due to low use of agro chemicals in field and horticultural crops.

A scientometric study of oral cancer research in South and Southeast Asia with emphasis on risk factors control

Background/purposeSouth Asia and Southeast Asia are the regions with relatively high and increased disease burden of oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyze the scientometric characteristics of oral cancer research in these regions. Materials and methodsThere are 8 countries from South Asia and 11 countries from Southeast Asia. All the articles on oral cancer from these countries were retrieved in the Scopus database. ResultsA total of 5660 articles originated from South Asia (n = 4718) and Southeast Asia (n = 942). India (n = 4302; 91.2%) was the country publishing most articles on oral cancer in South Asia, and Malaysia (n = 355; 37.7%) was first in Southeast Asia. Tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and areca nut as risk factors were common keywords, attention should be paid to them while developing polices for oral cancer control. In India, the most topic including distinctive keywords was diagnostics (sensitivity/specificity, saliva, and predictive value), followed by molecular biology (antioxidants, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione), experimental in vivo (hamster and cheek pouch), and risk factor (smokeless tobacco). In Malaysia, the most topic containing keywords was molecular biology followed by epidemiology and drug research. ConclusionThis study for the first time reported the scientometric characteristics of oral cancer research in South Asia (India) and Southeast Asia (Malaysia). It is essential to improve the public awareness of risk factors control to reduce the oral cancer burden, especially in low-and middle-income countries.

Pharmacodynamic Interaction of Areca catechu with Gliclazide in Wistar Rats

Background and Purpose In alloxan-induced diabetic rats, this study sought to evaluate the hypoglycemic potential of the hydroalcoholic seed extract of Areca catechu, also referred to as areca nut, both as a stand-alone treatment and in combination with the diabetic drug gliclazide. Materials and Methods The hot percolation method was used to produce the hydroalcoholic seed extract of A. catechu. Rats were given alloxan monohydrate and developed type II diabetes. The hydroalcoholic seed extract of A. catechu (1000 mg/kg p.o.) alone or in different combinations of gliclazide (25 mg/kg p.o.) and A. catechu extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg p.o.) were administered to the six diabetic rats. Body weights and blood glucose levels were measured on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the treatment. On the 28th day, the kidney, liver, and pancreas underwent histological investigations in addition to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Results Blood glucose levels were significantly lowered upon administration of A. catechu’s hydroalcoholic seed extract, both alone and in conjunction with gliclazide. Comparing the diabetic control group to the A. catechu extract-treated group, histopathological examinations showed that high amounts of the extract, either by itself or in conjunction with gliclazide, caused the active proliferation of pancreatic beta cells, protecting against damage to the liver and kidneys. Conclusion The hydroalcoholic seed extract of A. catechu showed promise as a monotherapy for controlling blood glucose levels, and as a co-administer for gliclazide, it showed signs of hypoglycemia. These results indicate A. catechu’s possible therapeutic benefit as an adjuvant diabetic treatment. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of action and evaluate its safety and effectiveness in clinical settings, more study is necessary.

Value chain analysis for community livelihoods in peatlands: A case study in Southern Riau

Many of the Indonesian peatlands have been cleared of forest, then drained and burned for both large- and small-scale agricultural crop development. This has resulted in regular occurrences of haze from peatland fires during the dry season. Peatlands have long been a livelihood source providing up to 80% of earnings for nearby local communities. Nevertheless, many such communities apply unsustainable practices involving the use of fire for land preparation and drainage of wet healthy peatland ecosystems. For that reason, haze-free sustainable livelihoods need to be found immediately. This research analysed commodities traded in local markets as well as those with the potential for trade that could be grown in targeted villages. We collected data through market observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews in nine targeted villages. Using Value Chain Analysis (VCA) methods, we analysed and assessed each commodity for their value chain distribution and governance, and power relations. The results of these assessments indicate that pineapple, areca nut, honey and fish are financially viable for generating income throughout the year and have fewer environmental impacts. These commodities have potential for consideration as alternatives in lieu of oil palm, which requires peatland drainage and often use of fire.

77 Emerging strategies for head & neck cancer prevention

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a group of malignancies mostly involving the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. All together they represent the seventh most common cancer diagnosis worldwide. With 890,000 new cases and 450,000 deaths annually per GLOBOCAN estimates, HNSCC accounts for roughly 4.5% of cancer diagnoses and deaths. In the developing world, the incidence of HNSCC is growing with increasing consumption of tobacco (smoked or chewed), alcohol, and areca nut (betel quid). Alcohol and tobacco have a synergistic effect, with the heavy consumption of both increasing HNSCC risk 40-fold. In this context, the risk of second primary tumors in the field of cancerization is high. In developed nations, HPV-related HNSCC surpasses tobacco- and alcohol-related disease. HPV-related HNSCC more commonly affects the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx than the oral cavity, and is associated with a significantly longer survival.Based on this epidemiological facts, different strategies involving primary, secondary and tertiary prevention will be discussed. For prevention of HPV-positive HNSCC, emphasis will be given to vaccination strategies and novel diagnostic biomarkers for early detection. HPV-negative HNSCC are mostly represented by oral cavity cancers. In this particular context, a Working Group of international experts was convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to review and assess all available evidence on the effectiveness of primary and secondary preventive interventions in reducing the incidence of and mortality from oral cancer. Available evidence will be summarized. Finally, we will address the challenge of unmet oral cancer prevention in the context of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) in terms of oral cancer risk assessment and pharmacological interception approachs.In conclusion, a lot remains to be done to improve the prevention of HNSCC but significant opportunities exist that will hopefully allow in the near future to significantly decrease its morbidity, mortality, and profound impact on patient's quality of life.

Bioactive Components of Areca Nut: An Overview of Their Positive Impacts Targeting Different Organs.

Areca catechu L. is a widely cultivated tropical crop in Southeast Asia, and its fruit, areca nut, has been consumed as a traditional Chinese medicinal material for more than 10,000 years, although it has recently attracted widespread attention due to potential hazards. Areca nut holds a significant position in traditional medicine in many areas and ranks first among the four southern medicines in China. Numerous bioactive compounds have been identified in areca nuts, including alkaloids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and fatty acids, which exhibit diverse bioactive functions, such as anti-bacterial, deworming, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, they also display beneficial impacts targeting the nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems. This review summarizes the pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of the bioactive ingredients in areca nut. This helps to ascertain the beneficial components of areca nut, discover its medicinal potential, and guide the utilization of the areca nut.

Greener Approach for Synthesis of δ-MnO2 Nanoparticles: Access to Pharmaceutically Important Pyrimidines and their Antimicrobial Activity Studies.

A sustainable approach for pharmaceutically important pyrimidine derivatives is achieved by using biogenically produced single-phase δ-MnO2 NPs under external ligand-free conditions. The phytochemicals that comprise the extract of Areca Nut Husk (ANH) have been discovered to serve as reducing agents. The role of phytochemicals is not only to aid in the reduction of Mn(VII) into Mn(IV), but they also have an important role in stabilizing the catalyst. The establishment of δ-MnO2 NPs was confirmed inveterate by FE-SEM, p-XRD, ICP-OES (Mn content = 43.17% w/w), EDX, and with an active Mn content of 43.17% w/w. A series of pyrimidine derivatives were prepared in good yields using a one-pot multicomponent synthesis approach under atmospheric conditions. In addition, hot filtration tests, control experiments, gram-scale synthesis, and mechanistic investigations were demonstrated. Additionally, antimicrobial activity studies of δ-MnO2 NPs and pyrimidine derivatives against the Gram-negative bacteria E. coli, growth curve and minimum inhibitory concentration were studied.

Pemanfaatan Briket Arang Kulit Pinang sebagai Bahan Bakar Alternatif di Desa Rumah Galuh, Kec Sei Bingai, Kab Langkat

Fuel oil, coal and gas are some of the energy sources that are widely used by the people of Indonesia. Charcoal briket are a biomass energy source that is biodegradable and environmentally friendly which is one of the alternative fuels. The basic material for making briket charcoal consists of various materials such as agricultural, plantation, and household waste. One of the agricultural commodities of the community of Rumah Galuh Village, Sei Bungai District, Langkat Regency is areca nut. Solid waste in the form of areca nut peel has the potential to be used in briket making materials that can increase the use and economic value of the waste. The implementation procedure starts from burning, grinding, sieving, making adhesives, making dough, molding, drying briket, to testing briket, then socialization to the community. As the ultimate goal of Community Service, with this activity, areca nut skin waste which is usually only burned can be used as goods of economic value, providing education to the community regarding the use of areca nut skin waste into charcoal briket so that in the future it can increase the income of the people of Rumah Galuh Village.

Evaluation of possible role of fluoride in pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis: A pilot study.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder. Although areca nut chewing is an established risk factor, its low prevalence among nut chewers indicates additional factors likely facilitates pathogenesis. We recently demonstrated high fluoride levels in smokeless tobacco products and hypothesized a potential pathological role of fluoride in OSMF. Further exploring this novel role, this study compared fluoride levels in tissue, serum, and saliva samples from OSMF patients and healthy controls. The ethically approved study included 25 clinically confirmed OSMF patients and 25 healthy matched controls. OSMF cases underwent buccal mucosal incisional biopsy, while controls had buccal mucosa tissue sampling during third molar removal. Fasting venous blood and unstimulated saliva were collected. Fluoride levels were analysed using ion chromatography and expressed as median (IQR). OSMF cases showed significantly higher fluoride concentrations compared with controls in tissue biopsies (30.1 vs. 0 mg/kg, p < 0.0001), serum (0.4 vs. 0 mg/L, p = 0.005) and saliva (1.3 vs. 0 mg/L, p < 0.0001). Majority (68%) of controls had undetectable fluoride levels across all samples. Tissue fluoride weakly correlated with OSMF severity (r = -0.158, p = 0.334). The preliminary findings demonstrated increased tissue fluoride levels in OSMF patients compared with healthy controls. Along with a previous study showing high fluoride content in smokeless tobacco products, these findings provided early evidence suggesting fluoride could play a contributory role in OSMF pathogenesis. Further large-scale investigation is warranted to definitively establish whether the association between fluoride exposure and OSMF is indicative of causation.