Progress on toxicity and physiological activity of arecoline in edible areca

The arecoline is the most important alkaloids chemical constituents in areca nut. Its content is the highest in many areca alkaloids. Arecoline has important physiological functions in animals and human. Arecoline is the main bioactive components of areca nut, and it has certain pharmacological effects and side effects. This paper summarized the effects of arecoline on human and animal in the toxicity, physiological activities, and expounded the arecoline induced oral submucous fibrosis, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity and gastro intestinal digestion, anthelmintic molluscicidal effect, antimicrobial activities.It improved understanding of the effects of arecoline may help to establish public health policies and to develop people study more about the deeping exploitation.