Copper containing fungicide – the actual culprit in the pathogenesis of OSMF?

Abstract

Introduction: To estimate possible role of copper in etiology of oral sub mucus fibrosis. Aims and Objectives: To analyse and compare metal constituents of arecanuts sprayed with copper containing fungicide and that not sprayed with fungicide. To evaluate the effects of arecanuts sprayed with copper containing fungicide on the buccal mucosa of rats. Materials and Methods: Aquous solutions of arecanuts sprayed and not sprayed with fungicide, were prepared and sent to NITK for metal analyses. Buccal mucosa of 6 adult Wistar albino rats, were treated twice daily, for 6 days a week, with topical application of aqueous areca nut extracts, for one year. A control group (n = 6) was treated with distilled water. Biopsy was conducted at the end of six, nine and twelve months. The influence of areca nut on the oral epithelium and connective tissue of the rats were recorded semi quantitatively by light microscopy. Results: Metal analysis showed that the difference of copper content of arecanut treated with fungicide when compared to that of those not treated with fungicide was very meagre. The histopathological report of the tissue treated with arecanut solution showed development of fibrosis even at the 6th month. Though not uniformly progressive, fibrosis was noticed in all the tissues at 6, 9 and 12 months. Conclusion: The copper content of arecanut treated with fungicide and that not treated with fungicide was not very significant. The arecanut treated with copper containing fungicide can induce OSMF like changes in rat mucosa. Keywords: Arecanut, Copper containing fungicide, OSMF, Rat mucosa.