title: Betel Nut Chewing in Iron Age Vietnam? Detection of Areca catechu Alkaloids in Dental Enamel.
abstract: The betel quid is one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances in the world. By archaeological evidence like the occurrence of areca nuts in archaeological sites, the typical overall reddish-brown staining on prehistoric human teeth or specific artifacts linked with the habit, it is assumed that this tradition reaches back to prehistoric times. Since this kind of evidence is indirect, it is frequently doubted. The present study provides the earliest direct analytical indication of betel nut chewing in human history. A typical stained tooth from an Iron Age skeleton (site Gò Ô Chùa in Southern Vietnam, 400-100 BC) was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-ToF-MS) and the alkaloid arecoline which is specific for Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae) was detected.
authors.affiliation: a Doctoral Candidate, Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krais
authors.affiliation: b Doctoral Candidate, Institute for Forensic Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Hermann Staudinger Graduate School , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klima
authors.affiliation: c Research Associate, Institute for Forensic Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Huppertz
authors.affiliation: d Professor, Institute for Forensic Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Auwärter
authors.affiliation: e Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology , University Medical Center , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Markus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Altenburger
authors.affiliation: f Assistant Professor, Institute for Forensic Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine , University of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Merja A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Neukamm
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000266:history / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001114:Areca / Q000737:chemistry*; D001115:Arecoline / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D001115:Arecoline
keywords: Analytical toxicology; Gò Ô Chùa; LC-MS/MS; arecoline; dental analysis; prehistoric drug consumption