Effect of Smoke Shield-a herbal formulation on the mutagenicity and oxidative stress produced by cigarette smoke in rats.

Herbal formulation Smoke Shield was studied for its activity against cigarette smoke induced oxidative stress in rats. Smoke Shield administration was found to decrease the increased lipid peroxidation and conjugated dienes in the lung tissue and serum of cigarette smoke exposed rats. Moreover, administration of Smoke Shield was found to increase the activity of catalase in erythrocytes and lung tissue of rats, which was decreased upon smoke exposure. Glutathione peroxidase, which was increased by smoke exposure, was decreased by Smoke Shield and concomitantly there were increased levels of glutathione in the cells. In vitro studies indicated that addition of Smoke Shield could reduce the mutagenicity produced by tobacco smoke condensate, mosquito coil smoke condensate as well as by aqueous tobacco extract. In vitro antioxidant potential of smoke shield was found to be comparable or better than known antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E. These results indicated that Smoke Shield administration could effectively reduce the oxidative stress produced in rats by cigarette smoke and it could inhibit mutagenicity produced by smoke condensates and tobacco extract in Salmonella typhimurium.