title: Studies on anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of betel nut in rodents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Areca catechu, commonly known as betel nut, is very famous for its medicinal use in multiple disorders. It is also popular as a remedy against inflammatory disorders in the Unani (Greco-Arab) system of medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the crude extract of Areca catechu and its respective fractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paw edema, formalin-induced nociception and acetic acid-induced writhing assays were carried out in vivo. Free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was performed in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary experiments using a single dose (100 mg/kg) of Areca catechu and its respective fractions demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced edema in mice and rats, the aqueous fraction being distinctly more effective. When studied on prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), arachidonic acid, histamine, or serotonin (5HT)-induced edema in rats, Areca catechu and its aqueous fraction markedly repressed only the PGE₂ and arachidonic acid-induced inflammation. When studied for analgesic activity, the crude extract and its aqueous fraction produced a dose-dependent (10-100 mg/kg) inhibitory effect on formalin-induced nociception in mice and acetic acid-induced writhing in rats, similar to aspirin. In DPPH assay, Areca catechu and its aqueous fraction exhibited free radical scavenging activity with respective IC(50) values of 5.34 μg/ml (4.93-5.78, CI; 95%, n=5) and 7.28 μg/ml (6.04-7.95, n=4), like that of rutin with IC(50) value of 4.75 μg/ml (3.89-5.42, n=4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Areca catechu and provide a rationale for its medicinal use in inflammatory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Natural Product Research Division, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, the Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shagufta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Malik Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mehmood
authors.forename: Anita Naushir Akbar
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Fahad Shabbir
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Ahsana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.forename: Anwarul-Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001114:Areca; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002351:Carrageenan; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009754:Nuts; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012431:Rutin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012431:Rutin; D002351:Carrageenan; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D001241:Aspirin