Arecaidine is a bio-active
alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...
in
areca nut
''Areca'' is a genus of 51 species of palms in the family Arecaceae, found in humid tropical forests from the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia and India, across Southeast Asia to Melanesia. The generic name ''Areca'' is derived from a name u ...
s.
It is a competitive
GABA uptake inhibitor.
Lime is said to hydrolyse
arecoline
Arecoline () is a nicotinic acid-based mild parasympathomimetic stimulant alkaloid found in the areca nut, the fruit of the areca palm (''Areca catechu''). It is an odourless oily liquid. It can bring a sense of enhanced alertness and energy, eu ...
to arecaidine
References
{{GABA metabolism and transport modulators
Piperidine alkaloids
Carboxylic acids
GABA reuptake inhibitors