• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2014

Arecoline is a major alkaloid of areca nuts which are widely chewed by southeast Asian and it manifests various toxic effects in different organs of human and animals. In this work, mature mice were treated by vitamins C plus E, arecoline, or both daily for four weeks. The results showed that arecoline significantly increased the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and significantly decreased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the liver tissues. Additionally, the body weight, testis weight, sperm counts, motility and normal sperms also were significantly decreased. The supplement of vitamins C and E can bring the activities of ALP and GPT to normal levels and partially restore the sperm counts compared to the arecoline-treated group but have no other positive effects. In conclusion, the vitamins C and E partially attenuated the arecoline-induced hepatotoxiciy but basically had on protective effects against the arecoline-induced testicular toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.1 s.124
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• pp.39-42
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• 2001

The seeds of Areca catechu L. has been used for the treatment of the diseases caused by parasites in East Asia. As a part of a research for standardization of crude drugs, we have determined the content of arecoline in the seeds of Arecae Semen purchased from various regions of Korea. The HPLC method for quantitative analysis of arecoline in Arecae Semen was established and reproducible results and chromatographic isolation of arecoline was accomplished successively. It suggested that the content of arecoline in Arecae Semen was $0.2726\;{\pm}\;0.05532%$.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2014

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is a facultative anaerobic bacterium mainly found in the oral cavity and is known to contribute to tooth decay and gingivitis. Recent studies on intestinal microbiota have revealed that microorganisms forming a biofilm play important roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis through their own metabolism. However, the physiological roles of oral microorganisms such as S. mutans are still unclear. In our current study, we identified that constituents released from S. mutans (CR) reduce arecoline-mediated cytotoxicity without producing toxic effects themselves. Arecoline, as a major alkaloid of areca nut, is known to mediate cytotoxicity on oral epithelial cells and induces a sustained intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) increase that is cytotoxic. The exposure of human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells to CR not only inhibited the sustained $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase but also the initial $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ elevation. In contrast, CR had no effects on the gene regulation mediated by arecoline. These results demonstrate that S. mutans has physiological role in reducing cytotoxicity in HGF cells and may be considered a novel pharmaceutical candidate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 1993

毒에는 비소, 수은처럼 無機毒과 식물, 동물성의 有機毒이 있으며, 有機毒에는 알카로이드, 배당체, 단백毒 등이 있다. 식물의 알카로이드毒을 중심으로 이것이 어떻게 藥物로서 이용되어 왔는지에 관해 다루었다. Morphine의 발견을 계기로 여러 종류의 식물 알카로이드가 계속 분리되었으며, 藥의 탐구의 새로운 길을 열었다. Morphine은 우수한 진통의 효과를 가졌지만, 흡수억제 및 습관성의 결점을 가지고 있다. 또, Areca catechu L. 의 종자(빈낭자)에는arecoline, arecaidine 등의 piperidine系의 알카로이드를 함유하고 있다. Arecoline은 副交感神經 흥분작용이 있고, 침분비 촉진, 比瀉 등으로 사용되어 왔지만, 지금은 그 용도가 적어졌다. 그리고 화살독이 되는 毒을 약물로 사용한 것은 Acontium屬 식물이 유일한 것이다. 중국에서는 이를 身體四肢關節의 마비, 疼痛의 회복, 대사기능실조의 회복 등의 목적으로 사용해 왔다.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.146.3-147
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• 2001