RESUMO
Nicotine is the most toxic factor of tobacco. Genistein is a phytoestrogen and antioxidant that has numerous health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of genistein against toxic properties of nicotine to the pancreas of mice. For this purpose, 48 male mice were randomly assigned into six groups (n=8): normal control, nicotine control (2.5 mg/kg), genistein (25 and 50 mg/kg), and nicotine+genistein (25 and 50 mg/kg) treated groups. Various doses of genistein and genistein+nicotine were administered intraperitoneally to animals for 4 weeks. The weight of pancreas, total antioxidant capacity and nitrite oxide of serum, insulin levels, and the number and diameter of islets of Langerhans were investigated. Nicotine administration reduced significantly total antioxidant capacity, insulin, pancreas weight, and the number and diameter of islets of Langerhans and increased nitrite oxide in serum compared to the control normal group (P<0.05). Conversely, genistein and genistein+nicotine increased significantly insulin, total antioxidant capacity, and the number and diameter islets of Langerhans and decreased serum nitrite oxide compared to the nicotine control group. It seems that the genistein can improve pancreas damage following the nicotine administration.