Studies on the pathological effects of feeding betel-nut meal in albino rats

The pathological effects of betel-nut meal consumption in weaned albino rats were studied for a period of 4 weeks. In higher concentrations (60-100%), toxic effects were observed. The rats showed severe diarrhoea and died within 1-3 weeks depending upon the amount of betel-nut meal consumed. In lower concentrations (5-10%), no grossly detectable pathological changes were observed in any one of the experimental rats. With the increase in the concentration of betel-nut meal in the experimental diets, the pathological changes were intensified gradually. The pathological changes observed in the rats fed with experimental diets containing more than 15% betel-nut meal were necrosis of the buccal and intestinal mucosa, splenomegaly, fatty changes in the liver and stunted skeletal growth. Catarrhal enteritis was observed in the rats fed with 15% betel-nut meal and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis was observed when the concentration of the betel-nut meal was raised above 15%.