Question

Stimulant present in betel nut is-
a. Caffeine
b. Theobromine
c. Arecoline
d. Amphetamine

Answer 1

Hint: A mild parasympathomimetic stimulant alkaloid based on an odourless oily liquid nicotinic acid found in the fruit of the Areca palm. It can bring a sense of increased vigilance and energy, euphoria and relaxation.

Complete answer:
> Option A is incorrect. Caffeine is a methylxanthine-class central nervous system stimulant class of drug used psychoactive drugs around the world. It is legal and unrestricted in almost all parts of the world, unlike many other psychoactive drugs. To clarify the effects of caffeine, there are many established mechanisms of action.

> Option B is incorrect. Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the cacao plant 's bitter alkaloid. It can be found both in chocolate and in a variety of other foods, including tea plant leaves and kola nuts. It also has evidence of alertness enhancement, blood pressure reduction, and blood flow, mood, and respiratory health changes. Theobromine should have milder, longer-acting effects than caffeine and less side effects that are harmful. For animals, theobromine is extremely toxic.

> Option C is correct. Betel nut or Areca nut is a palm tree fruit. It is a mild stimulant since the alkaloid isocline is present. Arecoline is often a bitter alkaloid and a central nervous system stimulant (CNS). Stimulants make an individual alert and active and increase arousal. Arecoline imitates the nicotine receptors in the brain and may thus therefore have parasympathetic effects in the body. Usually, to have a calming effect, betel nuts are chewed with betel leaves.

> Option D is incorrect. Amphetamine is a stimulant for the central nervous system which is manufactured, among many others, under the brand name Evekeo. It is used in the treatment of narcolepsy, obesity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In 1887, Amphetamine was discovered and exists as levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine as two enantiomers.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: While a cognitive deterioration is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, arecoline was suggested as a medication to slow down this process, and arecoline administered intravenously showed moderate improvement in verbal and spatial memory in Alzheimer's patients, although due to the potential carcinogenic properties of arecoline.