Protective effect of Eleteria cardamomum (L.) Maton against Pan masala induced damage in lung of male Swiss mice.

OBJECTIVE

To study the potential ameliorating properties of cardamom Elettaria cardamomum (E. cardamomum) L. Maton against pan masala induced damage in lung of male Swiss mice.

METHODS

The experimental animals were divided into 3 groups (control, pan masala treated group and pan masala with cardamom treated group) to evaluate pan masala toxicity. The observations were substantiated with profound changes in the lung tissue as revealed in the histologic and transmission electron microscopic examinations.

RESULTS

Lung of pan masala treated group showed adenocarcinoma, edema, and inflammation with increased activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase. The deleterious effects were seen to be less in cardamom treated group and the enzymatic activity also decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the ameliorating group.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the present experiment exciting results are observed when cardamom is supplemented with pan masala, or when given alone.