Toxicological Impact of Incense Smoke Exposure on Pulmonary Function in Albino Rats and the Protective Role of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)

Abstract

Indoor air pollution due to incense smoke is an environmental and public health hazard of major concern and is noticed prominently in developing countries and in deep-rooted cultural and religious rituals as incense burning. The current study was carried out for evaluation of the toxicological impact of incense smoke on the pulmonary tissues and biochemical parameters of albino rats and to investigate the protective role of these changes by inclusion of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) in the diet. Assessment was made on the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus) which were divided into three groups: control, incense smoke exposed, and incense smoke + broccoli groups. Experimental animals were exposed to incense smoke for 1 hour/day for 28 days and broccoli extract was given by oral administration at the dose of 300 mg/kg body wt. A significant rise in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was seen in incense smoke exposed groups as compared with control and the total protein and albumin levels were significantly decreased, suggesting damages in tissues, which later was confirmed through the stress report. Histopathological examination of lung tissues showed severe pulmonary inflammation, congestion, thickening of alveolar lining, and reduction in the spaces of alveolar air in incense smoke group compared with restorative amelioration near normal with pulmonary architecture in broccoli often choking the incidence. The study concludes that chronic exposure to incense smoke produces oxidative stress, inflammation and pulmonary toxicity in albino rats and broccoli supplementation results in considerable decline of biochemical and histological damage due to the antioxidant and antiinflammatory role of broccoli in diet