Evaluation of Buccal Cell cytotoxicity in Gutkha/Panmasala chewers and Bidi smokers.

Amrin Shaikh; Kishorkumar Chauhan; Dharmishta Patel; Divya Chandel

Volume : V, Issue : XI, November - 2015

Evaluation of Buccal Cell cytotoxicity in Gutkha/Panmasala chewers and Bidi smokers.

Amrin Shaikh, Kishorkumar Chauhan, Dharmishta Patel, Divya Chandel

Abstract :

 Amongst Indian population Gutkha/panmasala and Bidi is a common source of addiction which contains some toxic and/or carcinogenic ingredients. Since, the buccal cells are directly exposed, a study was conducted in gutkha/panmasala chewers and bidi smokers to analyse the cytotoxicity by using Buccal Micronucleus Cytome assay (BMCyt). The observations were compared with healthy, age matched and strictly non–addicted control individuals. The results of this study showed that the mean frequencies of all the cell types including Micronucleus (MN) (p>0.05), condensed chromatin cells (CC), Karyorrhectic cells (KR), and Karyolytic cells (KL) (p>0.001) cells were significantly higher as compared to control subjects except BN, 2MN and 3MN which was found to be non–significant. Hence, the present study suggest careful monitoring and awareness of people addicted to bidi smoking and gutkha/panmasala chewing as it can lead to serious health problems.