Role of Green Tea Extract (Camellia sinensis) in Prevention of Nicotine-Induced Inflammatory and Epithelial Changes in Buccal Mucosa of Albino Rats

摘要

Objective: The purpose of the study was to establish the preventive effects of green tea extract against nicotine-induced damage in buccal mucosa.Study Design: This experimental study was conducted on 52 albino rats divided into four groups of 13 rats each, including control (A), nicotine-induced (B), nicotine-induced and treated with green tea extract (C) and only green tea extract (D) treated groups.Methodology: Subjects in the group A were given normal water, while group B was injected with nicotine (0.25 mg/100 gin), group C was injected with nicotine and subsequently treated with green tea (40 mg/kg) extract while group D was just given green tea extract. Histological examination was conducted using heamotoxylin and eosin staining and observation under light microscope in order to compare the inflammatory cell infiltrate and changes in the epithelial thickness between four groups.Results: A statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.001) was observed amongst all four respective groups, indicating a substantial preventive effect of green tea extract against nicotine induced damage in terms of inflammatory cell infiltrate. Similarly significant statistical difference (p-value < 0.001) was observed for changes in epithelial thickness.Conclusion: The present study was able to provide evidence indicating green tea extract prevents nicotine induced damage to buccal mucosa in albino rats.