Betel cytotoxicity

An attempt to summarise the phytochemical composition of the betel quid, formation of N-nitrosation products during chewing, results of carcinogenicity and mutagenicity studies and the relationship between betel chewing and submucous fibrosis have been made from presently available literature. The present review provides a better understanding of the capacity of the quid ingredients in inducing preneoplastic changes for evaluation of the risk involved with its chewing.