title: Assessment of genetic damage among chewers of mixture containing mainly areca nut and tobacco.
abstract: Chewing mixture containing areca nut and tobacco is believed to be associated with oral cancer. Habit of chewing such mixture is prevalent among South Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effect of areca nut and tobacco on human lymphocytes. Peripheral blood from 107 subjects (nonchewers, 48; chewers, 59, including 20 subjects with oral submucous fibrosis [OSMF]) analyzed by cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) and alkaline comet assay. Nuclear anomalies, namely, binucleated cells with micronuclei (BN MN), total MN, nucleoplasmic bridge, and nuclear buds were higher in chewers whereas elevation in BN MN and total MN were significant among subjects with OSMF than nonchewers. DNA damage assessed by comet assay showed increased percentage of Tail DNA, Tail moment, and Olive tail moment among chewers as well as OSMF subjects. Significant positive correlation was observed between induction of CBMN and consumption of quids per day (r = .280, P = .033).
  
  
  RESULTS
  suggested cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of mixture containing areca nut and tobacco.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: Mayur S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Yogendra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Vijay K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Shivgotra
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D048749:Cytokinesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D062789:Tobacco Products