Arecoline Biological Activity and Biotransformation: A review

Abstract

Arecoline is a psychoactive alkaloid containing a reduced pyridine nucleus, isolated from Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae) with different biological activities on cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, and endocrine systems. Arecoline is the main toxic component of A. catechu responsible for oral carcinoma. It possesses a variety of pharmacological activities; it exhibits anticancer activity. It was reported that arecoline causes cytotoxicity through apoptosis in human endothelial cells. Moreover, the death of human leukemia K562 cells was induced by arecoline. Biotransformation is a structural modification of compounds such as amino acids, toxins, and drugs by enzymatic chemical reactions within living organisms. According to enzymatic sources, biotransformation is classified into three major types; microbial, plant cell culture, and animal cell culture transformation. It was suggested that microorganisms could be employed as a model of mammalian metabolism. Studying both mammalian and microbial transformation of arecoline is of interest by which we can reduce its toxicity, increase its bioavailability, and produce more active metabolites.