Abstract

This study examined the effect of exhaust fumes on the lungs and the impact of dietary supplementation with natural products containing cancer chemopreventive agents in attenuating their effect. Thirty-two rats were grouped into eight groups of four rats each. Groups 1-3 were on non-supplemented diet and exposed to exhaust fumes from generator for time intervals of 5 mins, 1 h and 2 h, respectively at a distance of 2.5 m away from the generator. Groups 4-6 were fed on supplemented diet and exposed to exhaust fumes for time intervals of 5 min, 1h and 2 h, respectively at a distance of 2.5 m from the generator. Group 7 was positive control not exposed to exhausted fumes and fed on diet supplemented with natural products. Group 8 was positive control not exposed to exhaust fumes and not on supplement diet. Normal cellular architecture was observed in supplement positive control groups compared with non supplement positive control groups indicated that the integrity of tissues were not compromised following food supplementation. However, large deposit of dark spots were seen in lungs of non supplemented groups on 1h and 2 h exposure groups, respectively. The lungs also showed significant decrease in the Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) level on exposure for 5 min, 1hour and 2 h (p<0.05) compared with their respective control groups. It was also observed that the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly (p<0.05) in non supplement groups compared with their control groups. Combination of natural products significantly reversed the effect of exhaust fumes on the level of GST (p<0.05) and MDA level (p>0.05 compared with non supplement groups. Supplementation of diet with natural products had no adverse effect on the integrity of the tissues under examination as demonstrated by histochemical analysis. Hence, combination of natural diet may provide a useful preventive measure against tissue injury consequent to exposed to exhaust fumes experienced in our houses and roads.

Keywords:

Chemo preventive agents, carcinogenic, neurotoxic, endogenous antioxidant enzyme,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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The authors have no competing interests.