Areca catechu

Called The Areca ( Areca catechu ), betel palm also, Katechupalme or Arekapalme, a species of the palm family is ( Arecaceae ). Together with about 60 other species of the genus Areca it is widespread in the Indo-Malayan region.

Features

A. catechu is slim, single-stemmed Fiederpalmen that can be up to 25 m high. The leaflets reach this length of up to 2 m. Both the male and the female flowers are in cylindrical flower spikes with about 150-200 oval stone fruits. These red fruits are betel nuts or Arekanüsse called, are about the size of a chicken egg, about 7 cm, and enclose with fibrous flesh takes on a 3-10 g in weight, brown seeds.

Occurrence

The Areca is an ancient crop that is found throughout Southeast Asia from Malaysia to the islands of the Solomon Islands, north-east to Taiwan and the Philippines, south to northern Australia. In Thailand, the remains were found of betel, which have been dated to over 7500 years. The plant is also in tropical rain forests in East Africa and Madagascar cultivated.

Use

Agents

These are mainly for the active ingredients of the plant to alkaloids, the content is in this case 0.3-0.6 %. The main alkaloid arecoline is here, next to arecaidine, Arecolidin, Guvacolin and guvacine are available. If the nuts are chewed, carried out partly hydrolysis of arecoline to arecaidine.

Use

Immature betel nuts are finely chopped and chewed in Asia. Usually, these are rolled in to coated with slaked lime leaves, which are not derived from the betel palm, but from the betel pepper ( Piper betle ), which as betel (also: sirih ) then is called. Because of the bitter taste often spices like peppermint, licorice or chewing tobacco are added. The slaked lime causes the arecoline contained in the nuts and arecaidine hydrolyzed in methanol, but also attacks the gums. Appropriate the conversion of the alkaloid into the free base is the lighter absorbability. The active ingredients are absorbed directly after chewing in the mouth and quickly pass the blood -brain barrier, which acts against fatigue. The betel quid chewing has been practiced for centuries, according to current estimates in Eastern Africa and Asia of more than 450 million people. By alkalinization is Phlobatannine which color the saliva red form. Therefore, this took place in Asia to dye the lips use.

In addition to the consumption by humans arecoline is also used in veterinary medicine application. In cattle and dogs, it is used as a remedy for intestinal worms. From the green, unripe fruit tannins also can be obtained for dyeing.

Seeds of the betel palm germinate under warm and humid conditions within a few weeks. The young plants are occasionally offered in flower shops can be in Germany but just keep as houseplants because they do not tolerate frost. The leaves of young betel palms also tolerated no direct sunlight.

For cleaned and pressed leaves of the betel palm is dimensionally stable items such as disposable plates can be shaped.

Symptoms

The consumption of betel nuts leads firstly to salivate and wellbeing. Secondly, it restricts the appetite. The effect is similar to that of alcohol. Other typical symptoms include nausea, profuse sweating as well as a burning sensation in the mouth and throat. In a high dose of the nuts to bradycardia, shivering, vomiting, confusion, cramps and diarrhea. Death by respiratory or cardiac arrest may be the result.

Pharmacology

The active ingredients of the plant are neurotoxic, have a stimulating effect and are toxic. The arecoline contained acts parasympathomimetisch and activates the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. It acts similar to pilocarpine. The effect is an increased secretory gland activity, ie increased salivation. In addition, a weak narcotic effect of arecaidine. This is due to the reduced GABA uptake inhibitory in neurons, which is initiated by the substance. In addition, stimulating and sedating properties arecaidine has. The alkaloids contained, possibly also eugenol, are mutagenic and can lead to cancer in the oral cavity and esophagus. In general, however, this is a longer- term consumption necessary. The intake of 8-10 g of seeds can be fatal to a human. The LD50 for mice is arecaidine 850 mg / kg body weight at oral administration and 520 mg / kg at intravenous application. For arecoline a LD50 in mice of 100 mg / kg was administered subcutaneously and determines 34 mg / kg intravenously.

First aid

Gastric lavage is performed only after the uptake of very large quantities, usually the administration of activated charcoal and sodium sulphate is sufficient. If necessary, the application of 1-2 mg atropine as an antidote is required. Only in severe poisoning occurs intubation with artificial ventilation of the patient. Cardiac arrest a heart massage or shock therapy is performed accordingly. It is also necessary to monitor the function of the liver and kidneys.

Sales in Taiwan

In Taiwan, betel nut girls can be found on every street corner and sell betel nuts. Since the competition is very high, the sellers are often scantily clad to increase, especially among the male clientele their sales. The points of sale across the country are usually marked with green fluorescent tubes.

Taiwan's health authority is committed to reduce consumption. Regular chewing can next to yellow teeth and bad breath cause oral cancer in Taiwan in 2011, the fünfttödlichste cancer. The diagnosis of oral cancer in Taiwan received per year around 6000 people.

Swell

Wink, Michael; Ben -Erik van Wyk; Coralie Wink, Handbook of poisonous and psychoactive herbs, Scientific Publishing Company, Stuttgart, 2008. ISBN 3-8047-2425-6

Pictures

Betelnusspalmen in Kolkata, India

Arekanüsse from India

Areca in the Philippines

Betel

Areca

Juice vesicles Erowid

75888