Genotoxic Study of Chewing Leaf Tobacco in Swiss Albino Mice

The tobacco plant Nicotiana has probably been responsible for more deaths than any other herb as it is market driven commodity of economic benefit. While the majority will likely be killed by use of cigarettes, tobacco use in other forms also contributes to worldwide morbidity and mortality. Chewing leaf tobacco is less used now as the ban is imposed on it. We tested the genotoxic potential of chewing leaf tobacco using in vivo cytogenetic testsperipheral blood micronucleus test, and sperm abnormality assay. Three doses of tobacco viz., 3%, 5%, and 10% were given for 14 days. Cyclophosphamide, an indirect acting clastogen was used as positive control agent and it was injected intra peritoneally to the animals only once. Double distilled water was used as negative control. The frequency of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes (MNNCE) was increased in tobacco treated mice with the maximum MN being induced in NCEs at 10% dose. All three tobacco doses used in this study, induced significant abnormal sperms compared to controls (P<0.05). The chewing leaf tobacco at a certain concentration is genotoxic. Key-wordsChewing Leaf tobacco, Peripheral blood micronucleus, Swiss albino mice, Howell-Jolly bodies INTRODUCTION The tobacco plant has conquered the world as a powerful drug in the form of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes [1,2] Nicotiana varieties originate mainly from South America. The tobacco plant, Nicotiana, has probably been responsible for more deaths than any other herb. At present, tobacco smoking is causing over 3 million deaths a year worldwide, and if current smoking trends continue the annual mortality will exceed 10 million by around 2030. Undoubtedly, tobacco is the most important avoidable cause of premature death and disease in the world . Smokeless tobacco is consumed without burning the product and can be used orally and through nasal route. Oral smokeless tobacco products are placed in the mouth, cheek or lip and sucked (dipped) or chewed. In India, smokeless tobacco is famous in the form of Gudakhu, Mishri, snuff, chewing tobacco, Masher, Mawa, Sadagura etc. Maybe tobacco is the only one plant now known the world over for the overall health burden it causes to public health. And probably this is the only one plant whose references are made in almost every life science journals at least once. Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: