Histological and ultrastructural studies on the toxic effect of pan masala and its amelioration by Elettaria cardamomum / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To investigate the histological and ultrastructural changes observed in pan masala intoxicated mammalian testes under the effect of cardamom.@*METHODS@#Male Swiss mice were given pan masala orally at a dose of 2% of the feed and cardamom at a dose of 0.2% of the feed. They were divided into three groups, control (Group I), pan masala-treated (Group II), and a combination of pan masala and cardamom-treated group (Group III). Histologically, the testes of Group II mice displayed degeneration of tubular epithelium, disruption of spermatogenesis, and a marked reduction in germ cells.@*RESULTS@#When cardamom was given, damage was less with fewer distorted cells and also improvement with normal tubules and spermatid differentiation in Group III. Ultrastructurally, pan masala-treated testes showed cytoplasmic vacuolation, shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei of spermatogonia, and abnormal acrosomal granules.@*CONCLUSION@#When cardamom was given, the amelioration process was more evident showing a comparable morphology with control.

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.