Compound Monograph
Arecaidine
Arecaidine is a pyridine alkaloid from the areca (betel) nut and a metabolite of arecoline.
Sources · 1
Where Does It Come From?
Arecaidine is a naturally occurring pyridine alkaloid, found in Areca nut. It is flagged as moderately toxic.
Concentration
Content by Source
Concentrations not reported. No percent-dry-weight or mg/g figures have been published for this compound in its source plants.
Research & Evidence
Arecaidine is one of the alkaloids of the areca nut (Areca catechu), the seed chewed as “betel nut” across parts of Asia and the Pacific. It is closely related to arecoline, the nut’s main psychoactive alkaloid, and is also formed as a metabolite of it. Arecaidine has been studied for its effects on neurotransmitter uptake, but it is generally regarded as a weaker contributor to the stimulant effects of betel chewing than arecoline.
Toxicity & Safety
Areca nut chewing as a whole is strongly associated with serious health harms, including oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancers, and the practice is classified as carcinogenic to humans. Arecaidine is one of the constituents implicated in these effects. People should be aware that betel-nut use carries well-documented long-term risks.
