Postnatal effect of smokeless tobacco on phytic acid or the butylated hydroxyanisole-modulated hepatic detoxication system and antioxidant defense mechanism in suckling neonates and lactating mice.

The present study evaluates the potential of smokeless tobacco to translactationally modify the chemopreventive efficacy of phytic acid and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) via modulation of the hepatic xenobiotic detoxication system and antioxidant defense mechanism in the murine system. Phytic acid (1000 mg/kg b.w./day) by gavage while BHA (1% w/w) in diet induced a significant increase in the levels of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), acid soluble sulfhydryl (-SH), cytochrome b5 (Cyt. b5) and cytochrome P-450 (Cyt. P-450) in lactating dams and suckling pups. The hepatic levels of GST and -SH were significantly depressed whereas microsomal Cyt. b5, Cyt. P-450 and MDA levels were elevated in groups treated with smokeless tobacco (50 or 100 mg/kg b.w./day). The data reveals the inhibitory potential of smokeless tobacco on phytic acid-induced GST/GSH system efficiency besides the significant augmentation by smokeless tobacco on phytic acid or BHA-induced microsomal phase I enzymes. The direct or translactational modulation in the levels of xenobiotic detoxication system enzymes suggests the potential of smokeless tobacco to modify the chemopreventive efficacy of phytic acid or BHA.