Studies On Effect Of Processing On Functional Characteristic Of Areca Nut Extracts

Areca nut is a fruit of Areca cathchu Linn., one of the palm species, mainly distributed in Hainan and Taiwan province, and is the most commonly used drug in the world after tobacco, ethanol and caffeine. About 600 million people chew betel quid. Therefore, it's important to evaluate the physiological & hygienical effect of the extracts of areca nut and its processed products deeply and systematically.In this study, the areca nut from Hainan, Xiao Long wang betel quid, Betel quid I were extracted using water and methanol, respectively and six kinds of extracts were obtained:The areca nut from Hainan methanol extract (A), the areca nut from Hainan water extract (B); Betel quidⅠmethanol extract (C), Betel quidⅠwater extract (D); Betel quidⅡmethanol extract (E), Betel quidⅡwater extract (F). These extracts were used in mice to evaluate the anti-fatigue function, antimicrobial effects in vitro, hyperglycemia-moderating effects, and determine acute toxicity and cumulative toxicity of these extracts. The main results were shown as follows:Nutritional components of three kinds of areca nuts were analysed in this paper. Results showed that the content of arecoline, polyphenol, vitamin C, protein, reducing sugar in processed areca catechu decreased, moisture content, crude fat changed a little. The losses of nutritional substances of Betel quidⅡwere less than that of Betel quidⅠThe effect of areca nut products extracts on anti-fatigue function in mice was studied through conducting loaded swimming time experiment of mice, and determining the concentration of serum nitrogen and lactic acid, the contend of liver glycogen of mice after swimming. The result showed that extracts of areca nut and betel quid had anti-fatigue function; the effect of areca nut from Hainan was the best (p<0.01), followed with Xiao Long wang betel quid (p<0.05), Betel quid I was the last (p>0.05). It could draw a conclusion anti-fatigue activity of processed areca catechu decreased because of reduction of nutritional substances.Hypoglycemic effects of areca nut extracts were studied in alloxan-induced diabetic mice and normal mice. Results showed that areca nut extracts could lower blood glucose and improve glucose tolerance of diabetic mice, remained no obvious change in the normal group injected extracts (p>0.05). Besides, areca nut extracts could increase the activity of SOD and decrease the content of MDA in serum, inhibit the occurrence of chronic complications of diabetes. The result showed that the hypoglycemic activity of areca nut from Hainan was the best (p<0.01), followed with Xiao Long wang betel quid (p<0.05), Betel quid I was the last (p>0.05) It could draw a conclusion hypoglycemic activity of processed areca catechu decreased.The in vitro inhibitory effect on blue mold and mixture molds in atmosphere of six extracts was studied and results showed that extracts had inhibitory effect on mixture molds, the inhibitory effect on blue mold exists concentration-effect relationship. MIC value of A against blue mold was= 3.5mg/mL, B was≤4.0mg/mL,C was≤1.5mg/mL, D was≤2.0mg/mL, E was C≤2.5mg/mL, F was 3.0mg/mL. The result showed that the hypoglycemic activity of areca nut from Hainan was the best (p<0.01) followed with Xiao Long wang betel quid (p<0.05), Betel quid I was the last (p>0.05). This suggested that there were preservatives in areca nut products.Results of acute toxicity of six kinds of extracts showed:the oral LD50 of A to mice was 6692 mg/kg and B was 7155 mg/kg; C was 4188 mg/kg, D was 4732 mg/kg, E was 5474 mg/kg and F was 5854 mg/kg. According to the acute toxicity grading criteria, A, B, E, F were actual non-toxic material and C and D were low toxicity material. Results of accumulative toxicity of six kinds of extracts showed:the accumulative coefficient K of A was 4.9 and B was 4.6; C was 3.7, D was 3.9, E was 4.0 and F was 4.6. Six extracts were moderate accumulative toxicity in mice. This indicated that Betel quid II was edible safely and Betel quid I had weak toxicity, but under the common use, the toxicity of areca nut was very low, and could be ignored nearly.From the research all above, we can draw a conclusion that areca nut extracts which contained arecoline, polyphenol, reducing sugar, protein, saponin, et al. Biological activity changed because the ingredient of processed areca catechu changed, but all areca catechu could improve anti-fatigue function, regulate blood glucose, and anti-mold in vitro, et al and were little or low toxicity. Therefore, it's safe to consume betel quid commonly. Chewing betel quid could alleviate body's stress, promote health.