DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v28i2.33

Keywords: Areca catechu, PDE-5 inhibitor, erectile dysfunction, GC-MS

Abstract

The Areca catechu (AC) plant has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac. In Indonesia, Areca nut extracts are found in beverages marketed to enhance vitality. This study focused on investigating the preliminary inhibitory potential of phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5), the phytochemical composition, and the isolation of major bioactive constituents from AC extracts. Extraction was performed first by cold maceration using a polarity gradient of solvents (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol), followed by aqueous Soxhlet extraction of the remaining residue. PDE-5 inhibitory activity was evaluated using a colorimetric assay kit. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Phytochemical profiling of the active extracts was conducted using GC–MS. The nut extracts presented the most promising PDE-5 inhibitory activity, exhibiting a higher percentage of inhibition than the husk. Among the solvent fractions, the hexane (63 %), dichloromethane (60 %), and ethyl acetate (64 %) extracts displayed modest PDE-5 inhibition percentages compared with the reference inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Subfraction Unripe nut DCM 3 (UND 3) exhibited 42 % PDE-5 inhibition, which was equivalent to IBMX. The phytochemical profiling of AC nut extracts identified five major compound groups: fatty acids, methyl esters, phenolics, alkaloids, and hydrocarbons. The major compounds trimyristin (1) and myristic acid (2) isolated from UND 3 did not inhibit PDE-5, suggesting that minor compounds or synergistic effects contributed to the inhibition. This is the first study to report PDE-5 inhibitory activity in AC, highlighting its potential for the development of natural, plant-based treatments for erectile dysfunction.