Carcinogenicity studies of masheri: pyrolysed tobacco product, in vitamin-A-deficient Sprague Dawley rats.

The carcinogenicity of long-term feeding of masheri extract to animals in a vitamin-A-sufficient (SLO+) and deficient (SLO-) state was studied in Sprague Dawley rats by feeding daily dose of 3 mg extract over a period of 21 months. The phase I activating enzymes, the glutathione (GSH)/glutathione S-transferase (GST) detoxification system, and the hepatic and circulating levels of vitamins A and C were also monitored at 12 and 21 months. It was observed that the phase I enzyme activities were significantly higher in SLO+ than in SLO- rats at both 12 months and 21 months. Moreover, the SLO- masheri-treated animals also showed a decreased in the GSH/GST detoxification system while the reverse was observed in SLO+ group. Masheri extract treatment significantly lowered the hepatic and circulating levels of vitamin A while a concurrent increase was observed in the vitamin C level. The extract was found to be tumorigenic in both the SLO+ and SLO- groups. Benign tumours were observed in the SLO+ group while a high incidence of malignant tumours of the lung were observed in the SLO- group upon treatment with masheri extract.