Toxicity of Gutkha, a Smokeless Tobacco Product Gone Global: Is There More to the Toxicity than Nicotine?

Abstract

The popularity of smokeless tobacco (ST) is growing rapidly and its prevalence of use is rising globally. Consumption of Gutkha, an addictive form of ST, is particularly common amongst South Asian communities throughout the World. This includes within the US, following large-scale immigration into the country. However, there exists a lack of knowledge concerning these alternative tobacco products. To this end, a study was carried out to determine the toxicity of gutkha, and what role, if any, nicotine contributes to the effects. Adult male mice were treated daily for 3-week (5 day/week, once/day), via the oral mucosa, with equal volumes (50 μL) of either sterile water (control), a solution of nicotine dissolved in water (0.24 mg of nicotine), or a solution of lyophilized guthka dissolved in water (21 mg lyophilized gutkha). Serum cotinine, measured weekly, was 36 and 48 ng/mL in gutkha- and nicotine-treated mice, respectively. Results demonstrated that exposure to nicotine and gutkha reduced heart weight, while exposure to gutkha, but not nicotine, decreased liver weight, body weight, and serum testosterone levels (compared to controls). These findings suggest that short-term guhtka use adversely impacts growth and circulating testosterone levels, and that gutkha toxicity may be driven by components other than nicotine. As use of guthka increases worldwide, future studies are needed to further delineate toxicological implications such that appropriate policy decisions can be made.

Nutritional value of germinated quinoa seeds and their protective effects on rats' health injected by nicotine

“…The increasing enzyme expression of drug metabolism in liver cells could be the most important reason for relative increasing of liver weighting. On the other hand, the results of liver weight disagree with (Willis et al, 2014) who recorded a significant decrease in liver weights in nicotine group comparing to other rat groups. The metabolism troubles in rats resulted in nicotine management could cause weighting loss.…”

Toxicity of Smokeless Tobacco Extract after 184-Day Repeated Oral Administration in Rats

“…The two main forms of ST are snus and chewing tobacco [ 9 ]. Snus is finely ground tobacco usually placed between the gum and cheek, and chewing tobacco comes as loose leaf, plugs, or twists [ 10 ]. ST consumption causes cancers of the mouth, lip, nasal cavities, esophagus, and gut; diabetes; hypercholesterolemia; myocardial infarction; and adverse effects on pregnancy [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Striatal Dopamine Release Regulation by the Cholinergic Properties of the Smokeless Tobacco, Gutkha

“…3,5–7 Currently, South Asians are the second largest and most rapidly growing sub-group in the United States, 3 with a corresponding increase in gutkha use in this country. 2,3 United States national surveys suggest that the prevalence of tobacco use by this ethnic group is ~7–12%, 8–9 and that the majority of South Asian tobacco users in the United States are using ethnically-linked smokeless tobacco products (e.g., paan, paan masala, and gutkha). 9,10 …”

“…2,3 United States national surveys suggest that the prevalence of tobacco use by this ethnic group is ~7–12%, 8–9 and that the majority of South Asian tobacco users in the United States are using ethnically-linked smokeless tobacco products (e.g., paan, paan masala, and gutkha). 9,10 …”

“…The gutkha constituent most commonly associated with addiction is nicotine, acting at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), although additional components may also contribute to its addictive potential. 9 Chief among these components is areca nut, which has been shown to cause dependence, with or without concurrent use of tobacco. 12 Areca nut contains the alkaloid arecoline, 13 a potent muscarinic ACh receptor (mAChRs) agonist, 11,14 which might also contribute to the addictive properties of gutkha.…”