Chu Nai-Shin
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Addict Biol. 2002 Jan;7(1):111-4. doi: 10.1080/13556210120091473.
Betel quid chewing has been claimed to produce a sense of well-being, euphoria, warm sensation of the body, sweating, salivation, palpitation, heightened alertness and increased capacity to work. These effects suggest that betel quid chewing affects predominantly the central and autonomic nervous systems. Several studies have been conducted to elucidate the central and autonomic effects of betel quid chewing. The results are: (1) betel quid chewing increased the heart rate with onset within 2 minutes, maximal effect within 4-6 minutes and an average duration of 16.8 minutes. The cardio-acceleratory response was more prominent for fresh and occasional chewers than for habitual chewers; (2) betel quid chewing increased the skin temperature with onset and duration similar to a cardio-acceleratory response. The hyperthermic effect was abolished by atropine and partly inhibited by propranolol. (3) Betel quid chewing had no effect on simple reaction time but shortened the choice reaction time. (4) Betel quid chewing produced widespread cortical desynchronization of EEG. (5) Chewing of one or two betel quids attenuated the sympathetic skin response while continued consumption of more than two betel quids affected the RR interval variation. (6) Plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline were elevated during betel quid chewing. These studies have confirmed several effects claimed by betel quid users. The effects of betel quid chewing appeared to be habit-related and dose-dependent. Although arecoline has been thought to be responsible for several effects of betel quid chewing, the present data suggest a role also played by sympathetic activation.
嚼食槟榔据称会产生一种幸福感、欣快感、身体温暖感、出汗、流涎、心悸、警觉性提高以及工作能力增强的感觉。这些效应表明嚼食槟榔主要影响中枢神经系统和自主神经系统。已经开展了多项研究来阐明嚼食槟榔对中枢和自主神经系统的影响。结果如下：（1）嚼食槟榔会使心率加快，2分钟内开始起效，4 - 6分钟达到最大效应，平均持续时间为16.8分钟。对于新鲜嚼食者和偶尔嚼食者，心脏加速反应比习惯性嚼食者更为明显；（2）嚼食槟榔会使皮肤温度升高，起效时间和持续时间与心脏加速反应相似。这种升温效应可被阿托品消除，部分被普萘洛尔抑制。（3）嚼食槟榔对简单反应时间没有影响，但会缩短选择反应时间。（4）嚼食槟榔会使脑电图出现广泛的皮质去同步化。（5）嚼食一两个槟榔会减弱交感皮肤反应，而持续食用超过两个槟榔会影响RR间期变异性。（6）嚼食槟榔期间，血浆去甲肾上腺素和肾上腺素浓度升高。这些研究证实了槟榔使用者声称的几种效应。嚼食槟榔的效应似乎与习惯有关且呈剂量依赖性。尽管槟榔碱被认为是嚼食槟榔产生多种效应的原因，但目前的数据表明交感神经激活也起到了作用。
