Protection from pan masala induced genomic damage by beta-carotene and retinoic acid--an in vitro experience.

Cytogenetic studies in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using aqueous and organic extracts of pan masalas, as well as genomic damage observed among pan masala consumers have conclusively shown genotoxic potential of pan masala-a dry complex mixture of areca nut, lime, catechu, cardamom, unspecified flavoring agent, etc., often containing tobacco in it. Tobacco and areca nut, major ingredients of pan masala, are closely associated with oral cancer. The most widely studied group of compounds in the field of chemoprevention is retinoids which includes natural vitamin A, beta-carotene and synthetic derivatives of vitamin A. In the present study, antigenotoxic effect of beta-carotene (BC) and retinoic acid (RA) on genotoxic potential of pan masala have been evaluated in CHO cells with the help of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency and chromosome aberration (CA) frequency as cytogenetic markers. The pulse treatment with pan masala plain/pan masala-tobacco (PM/PMT) extract in combination with either BC or RA yielded lower frequencies of CA and SCE in CHO cells as compared to the cultures treated with aqueous extract fo pan masalas alone. This antigenotoxic effect of BC and RA was more pronounced when treatment was given continuously for a longer duration. Thus, these results indicated possibility of using BC and RA to decrease the risk of oral cancer among pan masala chewers.