<p>New Delhi: The Centre has said it has planned to undertake a ‘Evidence-based research on arecanut and human health’ study to address the knowledge gap and provide conclusive evidence on the health effects of arecanut.</p><p>"This study brings together around 16 national and state-level agencies dealing with medical research, including All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Centre for cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and others, to conduct detailed research on the effect of arecanut on human health", Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary informed Lok Sabha in his written reply. </p>.Campco to export processed tender arecanut to Chinese firm.<p>The Minister said the Government was aware of the challenges faced by arecanut farmers. It’s noticed that certain research papers on the health effects of arecanut, which are quoted by WHO, have methodological limitations, leading to inconclusive reports. Notably, most of these studies focused on the health impacts of chewing mixtures, such as betel quid and gutka, which contain arecanut along with other ingredients. These studies have not indicated the sole & specific effects of consumption of arecanut isolate on human health, the Minister said. </p><p>A systematic review of the available literature was conducted by multiinstitutional stakeholders at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod in November 2023. This review revealed that the arecoline (alkaloid in arecanut) dosage used in these experiments was of a higher concentration compared to that released during normal chewing. Some studies have also revealed that arecoline, in lesser doses, has been found to inhibit tumour growth, he said. </p><p>Replying to a question from Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan, the Minister said arecanut has uses in ayurvedic and veterinary medicines because of its several alkaloids. </p><p>Recently the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd had written to the Centre seeking its intervention against the WHO’s classification of the arecanut as carcinogenic. </p><p>Replying to Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra question on impact of moisture on arecanut farming, Minister of state for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not carried out any impact assessment to review the 7% maximum moisture content requirement for Arecanut. However, </p><p>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod had evaluated arecanut samples collected from different places which were analyzed for moisture and water activity in Arecanut. For storage of arecanut under dry condition, moisture content of 11% with corresponding water activity of 7.1 was found reasonably safe, the Minister said. </p>
<p>New Delhi: The Centre has said it has planned to undertake a ‘Evidence-based research on arecanut and human health’ study to address the knowledge gap and provide conclusive evidence on the health effects of arecanut.</p><p>"This study brings together around 16 national and state-level agencies dealing with medical research, including All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Centre for cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and others, to conduct detailed research on the effect of arecanut on human health", Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary informed Lok Sabha in his written reply. </p>.Campco to export processed tender arecanut to Chinese firm.<p>The Minister said the Government was aware of the challenges faced by arecanut farmers. It’s noticed that certain research papers on the health effects of arecanut, which are quoted by WHO, have methodological limitations, leading to inconclusive reports. Notably, most of these studies focused on the health impacts of chewing mixtures, such as betel quid and gutka, which contain arecanut along with other ingredients. These studies have not indicated the sole & specific effects of consumption of arecanut isolate on human health, the Minister said. </p><p>A systematic review of the available literature was conducted by multiinstitutional stakeholders at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod in November 2023. This review revealed that the arecoline (alkaloid in arecanut) dosage used in these experiments was of a higher concentration compared to that released during normal chewing. Some studies have also revealed that arecoline, in lesser doses, has been found to inhibit tumour growth, he said. </p><p>Replying to a question from Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan, the Minister said arecanut has uses in ayurvedic and veterinary medicines because of its several alkaloids. </p><p>Recently the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd had written to the Centre seeking its intervention against the WHO’s classification of the arecanut as carcinogenic. </p><p>Replying to Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra question on impact of moisture on arecanut farming, Minister of state for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not carried out any impact assessment to review the 7% maximum moisture content requirement for Arecanut. However, </p><p>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod had evaluated arecanut samples collected from different places which were analyzed for moisture and water activity in Arecanut. For storage of arecanut under dry condition, moisture content of 11% with corresponding water activity of 7.1 was found reasonably safe, the Minister said. </p>
