Arecoline Information & Arecoline Links at HealthHaven.com

	Arecoline
	Systematic (IUPAC) name
	methyl methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate
	Identifiers
CAS number	63-75-2
ATC code	none
PubChem	2230
DrugBank	EXPT03296
ChemSpider	13872064
	Chemical data
Formula	C8H13NO2
Mol. mass	155.194 g/mol
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
	Physical data
Density	1.0495 g/cm³
Boiling point	209 °C (408 °F)
	Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
	Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	?
	(what is this?) (verify);

Arecoline is an alkaloid natural product found in the areca nut, the fruit of the areca palm (Areca catechu).^[1] It is an odourless oily liquid volatile in steam, miscible with most organic solvents and water, but extractable from the latter by ether in presence of dissolved salts. The salts are crystalline, but usually deliquescent; the hydrobromide, B•HBr, forms slender prisms, mp. 177-9 °C from hot alcohol; the aurichloride, B•HAuCl₄, is an oil, but the platinichloride, B₂•H₂PtCl₆, mp. 176 °C, crystallises from water in orange-red rhombs. The methiodide forms glancing prisms, mp. 173-4 °C.

[edit] Mechanism

In many Asian cultures, the areca nut is chewed along with betel leaf to obtain a stimulating effect.^[2] Arecoline is the primary active ingredient responsible for the central nervous system effects which are roughly comparable to those of nicotine, which has a similar chemical structure. Arecoline is known to be a partial agonist of muscarinic acetylcholine M₁, M₂ and M₃ receptors,^[1]^[3]^[4] which is believed to be the primary cause of its parasympathetic effects (such as pupillary constriction, bronchial constriction, etc.).

[edit] Uses

Owing to its muscarinic and nicotinic agonist properties, arecoline has shown improvement in the learning ability of healthy volunteers. Since one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is a cognitive decline, arecoline was suggested as a treatment to slow down this process and arecoline administered via i.v. route did indeed show modest verbal and spatial memory improvement in Alzheimer's patients, though due to arecoline's possible carcinogenic properties, ^[5] it is not the first drug of choice for this degenerative disease. ^[6]

Arecoline has also been used medicinally as an antihelmintic (a drug against parasitic worms).^[7]

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[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Ghelardini C, Galeotti N, Lelli C, Bartolini A. (2001). "Arecoline M1 receptor activation is a requirement for arecoline analgesia.". Farmaco. 56 (5–7): 383–5. doi:10.1016/S0014-827X(01)01091-6. PMID 11482763.
^ Gupta Prakash Chandra, Ray Cecily S (July 2004). "Epidemiology of betel quid usage". Ann. Acad. Med. Singap. 33 (4 Suppl): 31–6. PMID 15389304. http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf200409/V33N4p31S.pdf.
^ Yang YR, Chang KC, Chen CL, Chiu TH. (2000). "Arecoline excites rat locus coeruleus neurons by activating the M2-muscarinic receptor.". Chin J Physiol. 43 (1): 23–8. PMID 10857465.
^ Xie DP, Chen LB, Liu CY, Zhang CL, Liu KJ, Wang PS. (2004). "Arecoline excites the colonic smooth muscle motility via M3 receptor in rabbits.". Chin J Physiol. 47 (2): 89–94. PMID 15481791.
^ Saikia JR, Schneeweiss FH, Sharan RN. (1999). "Arecoline-induced changes of poly-ADP-ribosylation of cellular proteins and its influence on chromatin organization.". Cancer Letters. 139 (1): 59–65. doi:10.1016/S0304-3835(99)00008-7. PMID 10408909.
^ Christie JE, Shering A, Ferguson J (1981). "Physostigmine and arecoline: effects of intravenous infusions in Alzheimer’s presenile dementia". British Journal of Psychiatry 138: 46–50. doi:10.1192/bjp.138.1.46. PMID 7023592.
^ Yusuf H, Yong SL (2002). "Oral submucous fibrosis in a 12-year-old Bangladeshi boy: a case report and review of literature". International journal of paediatric dentistry / the British Paedodontic Society [and] the International Association of Dentistry for Children 12 (4): 271–6. PMID 12121538.

[ArecolineM1-Ghelardini-0] Ghelardini C, Galeotti N, Lelli C, Bartolini A. (2001). "Arecoline M1 receptor activation is a requirement for arecoline analgesia.". Farmaco. 56 (5–7): 383–5. doi:10.1016/S0014-827X(01)01091-6. PMID 11482763.

[1] Gupta Prakash Chandra, Ray Cecily S (July 2004). "Epidemiology of betel quid usage". Ann. Acad. Med. Singap. 33 (4 Suppl): 31–6. PMID 15389304. http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf200409/V33N4p31S.pdf.

[ArecolineM2-Yang-2] Yang YR, Chang KC, Chen CL, Chiu TH. (2000). "Arecoline excites rat locus coeruleus neurons by activating the M2-muscarinic receptor.". Chin J Physiol. 43 (1): 23–8. PMID 10857465.

[ArecolineM3-Xie-3] Xie DP, Chen LB, Liu CY, Zhang CL, Liu KJ, Wang PS. (2004). "Arecoline excites the colonic smooth muscle motility via M3 receptor in rabbits.". Chin J Physiol. 47 (2): 89–94. PMID 15481791.

[carcinogen-Saikia-4] Saikia JR, Schneeweiss FH, Sharan RN. (1999). "Arecoline-induced changes of poly-ADP-ribosylation of cellular proteins and its influence on chromatin organization.". Cancer Letters. 139 (1): 59–65. doi:10.1016/S0304-3835(99)00008-7. PMID 10408909.

[Alzheimer.27s-5] Christie JE, Shering A, Ferguson J (1981). "Physostigmine and arecoline: effects of intravenous infusions in Alzheimer’s presenile dementia". British Journal of Psychiatry 138: 46–50. doi:10.1192/bjp.138.1.46. PMID 7023592.

[pmid12121538-6] Yusuf H, Yong SL (2002). "Oral submucous fibrosis in a 12-year-old Bangladeshi boy: a case report and review of literature". International journal of paediatric dentistry / the British Paedodontic Society [and] the International Association of Dentistry for Children 12 (4): 271–6. PMID 12121538.

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