Areca Nut (AN), the seed of tropical palm tree Areca catechu, is a widely chewed natural product with estimated 600 million users across the world. Various AN products, thriving in the market, portray 'Areca nut' or 'Supari' as mouth freshener and safe alternative to smokeless tobacco. Unfortunately, AN is identified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Wide variation in the level of alkaloids, broadly ranging from 2 to 10 mg/gm dry weight, is observed in diverse variety of AN sold worldwide. For the first time, various factors influencing the formation of carcinogenic alkaloids in AN at various stages, including during the growth, processing, and storage of the nut, are discussed. Current review illustrates the mechanism of cancer induction by areca alkaloids in humans and also compiles dose-dependent pharmacology and toxicology data of arecoline, the most potent carcinogenic alkaloid in AN. Careful monitoring of the arecoline content in AN can potentially be used as a tool in product surveillance studies to identify the variations in characteristics of various AN sample sold worldwide. The article will help to generate public awareness and sensitize the government bodies to initiate campaigns against AN use and addiction.

中文翻译：

---

槟榔中存在的致癌生物​​碱的化学，代谢和药理作用以及影响其浓度的因素。

槟榔（AN）是热带棕榈树槟榔（Areca catechu）的种子，是一种广泛咀嚼的天然产品，在全球估计有6亿用户。在市场上兴旺发展的各种AN产品将“ Areca坚果”或“ Supari”描绘为清新剂，是无烟烟草的安全替代品。不幸的是，AN被国际癌症研究机构（IARC）鉴定为1类人类致癌物。在世界各地销售的各种AN中，观察到生物碱含量的广泛变化，干重范围从2到10 mg / g不等。首次讨论了影响坚果中致癌生物碱形成的各个阶段的各个因素，包括坚果的生长，加工和贮藏期间。当前的综述阐明了槟榔生物碱在人类中的致癌机理，并且还汇编了槟榔碱的剂量依赖性药理学和毒理学数据，槟榔碱是AN中最有效的致癌生物​​碱。仔细监测AN中槟榔碱含量的方法可潜在地用作产品监测研究中的工具，以识别全球销售的各种AN样品的特性变化。这篇文章将有助于提高公众意识，并提高政府机构对反对使用AN和成瘾的运动的认识。仔细监测AN中槟榔碱含量的方法可潜在地用作产品监测研究中的工具，以识别全球销售的各种AN样品的特性变化。这篇文章将有助于提高公众意识，并提高政府机构的意识，以发起反对使用AN和成瘾的运动。仔细监测AN中槟榔碱含量的方法可潜在地用作产品监测研究中的工具，以识别全球销售的各种AN样品的特性变化。这篇文章将有助于提高公众意识，并提高政府机构的意识，以发起反对使用AN和成瘾的运动。