TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO (SNUFF) ON LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION INDICES AND HISTOLOGY OF ALBINO RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The use of smokeless tobacco (snuff) is growing rapidly. Its consumption is associated with many health problems, which makes it very important to assess its toxicity. This research was carried out to evaluate the toxicity of sub-chronic doses of administered smokeless tobacco extract in Wistar albino rats. The LD50 was found to be above 10mg/200g b.w. The animals were grouped into five groups; A, B, C, D and E, with A serving as control. Group A were administered with 1ml of DH2O while B-E were administered with the graded doses 1.52mg, 2.96mg, 4.40mg, and 5.80mg respectively through oral gavage. Variables evaluated include body weight changes, clinical and physical observations, liver and kidney pathology, and histopathology. Result of body weight change showed increase at all levels; although growth increase was mild in C and D experimental groups. The sub-chronic toxicity on renal function parameters showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in urea and significant increase (P<0.05) in creatinine levels in some of the treated groups. However, no anatomical changes in kidney histology for the test animals were observed. Liver pathology evaluation showed significant changes in liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) levels, significant rise (P<0.05) in total protein levels, albumin and globulins concentrations in some of the treated groups as compared with the control. Degenerative histopathological change was observed in the liver for all treated animals by the onset of ballooning degeneration even as both portal and central veins appeared normal. These results suggest that smokeless tobacco may be hepathotoxic or nephrotoxic.