- 作者: Nai-Shin Chu
- 作者服務機構: Dopartment of Neurology, Chang Gung Medical Collego and Memorial Hospital, Taipei, taiwan, ROC
- 中文摘要: --
- 英文摘要: Betel chewing has been claimed to produce a sense ofwell-being, euphoria, heightened alertness, sweating,salivation, a hot sensation in the body and increasedcapacity to work. Betel chewing also leads to habitua-tion, addiction and withdrawal. However, the mecha-nisms underlying these effects remain poorly under-stood. Arecoline, the major alkaloid of Areca nut, hasbeen extensively studied, and several effects of betelchewing are thought to be related to the actions ofthis parasympathomimetic constituent. However, betelchewing may produce complex reactions and interac-tions. In the presence of lime, arecoline and guvacolinein Areca nut are hydrolyzed into arecaidine and guva-cine, respectively, which are strong inhibitors of GABAuptake. Piper betle flower or leaf contains aromatic phe-nolic compounds which have been found to stimulatethe release of catecholamines in vitro. Thus, betel chew-ing may affect parasympathetic, GABAnergic and sym-pathetic functions. Betel chewing produces an increasein heart rate, blood pressure, sweating and body temper-ature. In addition, EEG shows widespread cortical de-synchronization indicating a state of arousal. In auto-nomic function tests, both the sympathetic skin responseand RR interval variation are affected. Betel chewing alsoincreases plasma concentrations of norepinephrine andepinephrine. These results suggest that betel chewingmainly affects the central and autonomic nervous sys-tems. Future studies should investigate both the acuteand chronic effects of betel chewing. Such studies mayfurther elucidate the psychoactive mechanisms respon-sible for the undiminished popularity of betel chewingsince antiquity.
- 中文關鍵字: --
- 英文關鍵字: Betel nut. Betel nut chewing. Central nervous system. Autonomic nervous system. Addiction