Investigation of Phytochemical and Anthelmintic Activity of Two Different Forms of Areca catechu Consumed in Indian Demographics

Globally, an estimated 400 million individuals consume betel quid, with India accounting for about 223.79 million users. This study aimed to explore the two different forms, viz., dried and boiled Areca catechu in teams of their anthelmintic potentials, which has not been scientifically reported yet. The A. catechu ethanolic extract of dried and boiled forms was prepared and fractionated with ethyl acetate and chloroform. The phytochemical estimation, i.e., total phenolics and tannins, was estimated with preliminary phytochemical investigations. The total extract and fractions were evaluated for anthelmintic potentials using Pheretima posthuma (Earthworms). Phytochemicals were separated from the potent biological fraction by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The phytochemical estimation, viz., total phenolic content and total tannin content, was estimated, and the ethanolic extracts of boiled and dried A. catechu constitute around 27.29 ± 0.17 and 33.09 Avg µg/mg QUE respectively. Phenolic compounds of various fractions of dried and boiled samples were found to be 41.42±3.08, 24.65±1.26 and 28.01 Avg µg/mg QUE respectively. Significant anthelmintic activity was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Dried A. catechu ethanolic extracts and ethyl acetate fractions induced paralysis at 14 min, 16 min, 19 min, and 18 min and caused death at 19 min, 16 min, 28 min, and 26 min, respectively, whereas boiled A. catechu ethanolic extracts and ethyl acetate fractions showed paralysis times of 25 min, 23 min, 22 min, and 21 min and death times of 30 min, 27 min, 28 min, and 26 min, respectively. Dried A. catechu extract showed better anthelmintic activity as compared to standard albendazole, which may be due to the presence of proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins). Dried A. catechu was found to be a more potent anthelmintic than the boiled A. catechu. In addition, further mechanistic studies, such as the relationship between the fine structure of respective molecules and anthelmintic activity, are also a high priority