Protective effect of lobelia and hops mixture against cigarette inhalation toxicity in female rats

Abstract

Background/Aim Cigarette inhalation is dangerous for the health of both nonsmokers and smokers. It is the most important cause of death. The current study is important for studying the protective role of lobelia (Lobelia inflata) and hops (Humulus lupulus) against the toxic effects of smoking inhalation in adult female rats. Materials and methods This study was performed on 24 female rats divided into four groups (six each) including control group (G1), cigarettes inhalation group (G2), mixture of lobelia and hops inhalation group (G3), and mixture of herbal plants plus cigarettes inhalation group (G4). Female rats were exposed to inhalation of a mixture of lobelia and hops or cigarettes separately or mixed for 4 weeks with a concentration of 4.4 mg/kg for each dose. At the end of the experiment, serum samples and whole blood were used for biochemical and hematological investigation as well as histological examination on liver, kidney, lung, and cardiac tissue. Results The cigarette-treated rats showed significant increases (P<0.05) in levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, protein, urea, and creatinine, whereas a significant decrease (P<0.05) in albumin level was estimated. The exposure to the mixture of herbal plants only showed normal levels of liver and kidney biomarkers in comparison with the control group. However, the combination of cigarette plus mixture of herbal plants inhalations revealed normal levels of liver and kidney parameters after 4 weeks of inhalation. Histological studies showed morphological alterations in all vital organs of rats in cigarette inhalation-treated group, whereas normal histological examination in group of rats treated with cigarette plus mixture of herbal plants inhalations. Conclusion These findings concluded that exposure to cigarette inhalation in female rats activated harmful effects to the vital organs; this toxicity can be improved by exposure to mixtures of herbal plants from lobelia (L. inflata) and hops (H. lupulus).