Guvacoline in betel nuts directly binds to and inhibits AChE activity, lowering ACh levels released by neurons

Research Article
Open access

Guvacoline in betel nuts directly binds to and inhibits AChE activity, lowering ACh levels released by neurons

Dejia Zhou 1*
  • 1 Episcopal High School    
  • *corresponding author vickydjzhou@outlook.com
Published on 20 December 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-8818/24/20231099
TNS Vol.24
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-221-3
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-222-0

Abstract

This paper investigates guvacoline, a compound found in betel nut, and its activity on acetylcholine level. Betel nuts are the chewable seeds of plant used in Chinese traditional medicine. It is commonly used all over southern Asia and the east African seaboard, being the fourth most commonly used drug in the world. It is known for being carcinogenic for throat cancer. Immediate symptoms of betel nut chewing indicate activation of the parasympathetic system, in which acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase is involved. This paper predicts that guvacoline, found in areca nuts, increases free acetylcholine levels released from neurons by allosterically binding to acetylcholinesterase inhibiting it.

Keywords:

Traditional Chinese Medicine, Betel Nuts, Acetylcholine

Zhou,D. (2023). Guvacoline in betel nuts directly binds to and inhibits AChE activity, lowering ACh levels released by neurons. Theoretical and Natural Science,24,59-64.
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References

[1]. H. Na, Q. M, S. C, S. M, and P. Rl, (2019) “Cracking the Betel Nut: Cholinergic Activity of Areca Alkaloids and Related Compounds,” Nicotine Tob. Res. Off. J. Soc. Res. Nicotine Tob., vol. 21, no. 6, doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx187.

[2]. Q. Lan, P. Guan, C. Huang, S. Huang, P. Zhou, and C. Zhang. (2022) “Arecoline Induces an Excitatory Response in Ventral Tegmental Area Dopaminergic Neurons in Anesthetized Rats,” Front. Pharmacol., vol. 13, p. 872212, doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.872212.

[3]. X. Chen, Y. He, and Y. Deng. (2021) “Chemical Composition, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Effects of Betel Nut,” Evid.-Based Complement. Altern. Med. ECAM, vol. 2021, p. 1808081, doi: 10.1155/2021/1808081.

[4]. Y. Yang, H. Huang, Z. Cui, J. Chu, and G. Du. (2021) “UPLC-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of Bioactive Anti-Depression Compounds in Betel Nut,” Drug Des. Devel. Ther., vol. 15, pp. 4827–4836, doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S335312.

[5]. “SwissSimilarity: A Web Tool for Low to Ultra High Throughput Ligand-Based Virtual Screening | Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling.” https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00174.

[6]. M. Jing et al., (2018) “A genetically encoded fluorescent acetylcholine indicator for in vitro and in vivo studies,” Nat. Biotechnol., vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 726–737, doi: 10.1038/nbt.4184.

[7]. “AmplexTM Acetylcholine/Acetlycholinesterase Assay Kit.” https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/cn/zh/A12217.

[8]. E. L. Rodriguez et al., (2020) “Affinity Chromatography: A Review of Trends and Developments over the Past 50 Years,” J. Chromatogr. B Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life. Sci., vol. 1157, p. 122332, doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122332.


Cite this article

Zhou,D. (2023). Guvacoline in betel nuts directly binds to and inhibits AChE activity, lowering ACh levels released by neurons. Theoretical and Natural Science,24,59-64.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Biological Engineering and Medical Science

ISBN:978-1-83558-221-3(Print) / 978-1-83558-222-0(Online)
Editor:Alan Wang
Conference website: https://www.icbiomed.org/
Conference date: 2 September 2023
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.24
ISSN:2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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References

[1]. H. Na, Q. M, S. C, S. M, and P. Rl, (2019) “Cracking the Betel Nut: Cholinergic Activity of Areca Alkaloids and Related Compounds,” Nicotine Tob. Res. Off. J. Soc. Res. Nicotine Tob., vol. 21, no. 6, doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx187.

[2]. Q. Lan, P. Guan, C. Huang, S. Huang, P. Zhou, and C. Zhang. (2022) “Arecoline Induces an Excitatory Response in Ventral Tegmental Area Dopaminergic Neurons in Anesthetized Rats,” Front. Pharmacol., vol. 13, p. 872212, doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.872212.

[3]. X. Chen, Y. He, and Y. Deng. (2021) “Chemical Composition, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Effects of Betel Nut,” Evid.-Based Complement. Altern. Med. ECAM, vol. 2021, p. 1808081, doi: 10.1155/2021/1808081.

[4]. Y. Yang, H. Huang, Z. Cui, J. Chu, and G. Du. (2021) “UPLC-MS/MS and Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of Bioactive Anti-Depression Compounds in Betel Nut,” Drug Des. Devel. Ther., vol. 15, pp. 4827–4836, doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S335312.

[5]. “SwissSimilarity: A Web Tool for Low to Ultra High Throughput Ligand-Based Virtual Screening | Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling.” https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00174.

[6]. M. Jing et al., (2018) “A genetically encoded fluorescent acetylcholine indicator for in vitro and in vivo studies,” Nat. Biotechnol., vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 726–737, doi: 10.1038/nbt.4184.

[7]. “AmplexTM Acetylcholine/Acetlycholinesterase Assay Kit.” https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/cn/zh/A12217.

[8]. E. L. Rodriguez et al., (2020) “Affinity Chromatography: A Review of Trends and Developments over the Past 50 Years,” J. Chromatogr. B Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life. Sci., vol. 1157, p. 122332, doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122332.