title: Separation of polyphenols and arecoline from areca nut (Areca catechu L.) by solvent extraction, its antioxidant activity, and identification of polyphenols.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Areca nut (Areca catechu L.) or betel nut, a commercial cash crop, is a rich source of polyphenols but also contains toxic alkaloids, mainly arecoline. Separation of these bioactive polyphenols from toxic constituents could propel the safe and beneficial use of betel nut; also it will help arecanut processing industries to produce arecoline-free products. With the aim to develop an effective method for maximum extraction of polyphenols with minimum arecoline, several factors such as nature of the solvent, pH (2-10), substrate concentration (6-14 %) and extraction time (30-150 min) under shaking conditions were evaluated. Qualitative analysis was done using spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximum extraction of polyphenols (407.47 mg GAE g(-1)), total tannin and its antioxidant activity with minimum arecoline (1.73 mg g(-1) of sample) was achieved by using 80% acetone at pH 4 for 90 min with 10% w/v substrate under shaking conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Solvent extraction under optimized parameters gave maximum polyphenols with minimum extraction of arecoline, and highest ratio of polyphenols to arecoline. HPLC and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry results confirmed the presence of catechin and epicatechin in the extract, which suggests its potential as a source of bioactives.
authors.affiliation: Food Engineering and Technology Department, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Yogita V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Chavan
authors.forename: Rekha S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Singhal
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001114:Areca / Q000737:chemistry*; D001115:Arecoline / Q000009:adverse effects; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013634:Tannins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D013634:Tannins; D001115:Arecoline; D002392:Catechin