Studies on the Genotoxicity ofGutkha

Nowadays, smokeless tobacco consumption in the form of gutkha is receiving more popularity among the youth of India. In the present investigation, cytogenetic studies were carried out on 50 gutkha consumers and compared with controls, 50 men who did not have habit of smoking, alcohol drinking and consuming gutkha, tobacco and areca nut in any form. Frequency of chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were evaluated in peripheral blood lymphocytes, whereas frequency of micronucleated cells (MNC) was evaluated in exfoliated buccal mucosa. A significant increase (p < 0.001) was noted in values of all three cytogenetic markers among gutkha consumers compared with controls viz. CA (0.92-3.60), SCE (3.66-6.84), MNC (0.09-0.98). The frequency of all end points was higher among high age group individuals (> 31) compared with low age group individuals viz CA (1.67-2.81), SCE (4.65-5.80), MNC (0.36-0.70). The increased frequency of these end points was found to be significantly correlated (p <.001) with duration of consumption (b = 0.193, 0.039, 0.032 for CA, SCE and MNC respectively) and number of pouches consumed per day (b being 0.193, 0.441, 0.429 for CA, SCE and MNC respectively). Besides this, significant difference was found between the mean values of CA and SCE among gutkha consumers and gutkha consumers + drinkers + smokers and also significant increase was found between gutkha consumers + smokers and gutkha consumers + drinkers + smokers for CA.