The Consequence of Aqueous Extract of Tobacco Leaves (Nicotiana tabacum. L) on Feed Intake, Body Mass, and Hematological Indices of Male Wistar Rats fed under Equal Environmental Conditions

Abstract

Objective

While the dangers of consuming tobacco by smoking has been of concern, the hazardous effect of other forms of tobacco consumption (in smokeless form) on health indices are less well explored. In this paper, we explored the effect of different doses of aqueous extract of tobacco leaves on feed intake, body mass, and hematological indices of male Wistar rats under equal environmental conditions.

Method

Using an oral route of administration, the rats (n = 24; w = 65–85 g; 2–3 weeks old) were administered at different doses of 100, 200, 400, 0 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) per day to group A, B, C, and D for 42 days, after phytochemical and acute toxicity testing of the tobacco leaves.

Results

Compared to the negative control group (D), packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, red blood cells, and lymphocytes reduced dose-dependently in contrast to the white blood cells, neutrophils, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume. As body mass and feed intake in relation to the different doses of aqueous extract of tobacco leaves reduced significantly (p < 0.05), the reverse was observed for body mass and feed intake in relation to room temperature.

Conclusions

By influencing hematological indices, feed intake, and body mass, the extract of tobacco leaves can be hazardous to health. However, to assess safety and to come up with a conscious conclusion, future studies should explore the effect of the extract on organs histopathology, biochemical parameters, and lipid profile of the body.

Keywords:

• Hematological parameters
• body mass
• feed intake
• aqueous extract of tobacco leaves
• environmental conditions
•  rats

Acknowledgments

The study was supported with facilities from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology University of Nigeria, Nsukka. We also thank the following people for their help with various aspects of this project: Joseph Effiong Eyo, Ike Nelson Ossai, and Chinedu Ifeanyi Atama.

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethics statement

All fieldwork and laboratory work performed complied with local ethical regulations and agreements.

Authors’ contributions

The study was conceived and designed by Felix Atawal Andong, Augustine Okorie Nkemakolam, Emelda Obioma Nwankpo, and Chibuike Chisom Ozue. The study was performed by Felix Atawal Andong, Augustine Okorie Nkemakolam, Emelda Obioma Nwankpo, Chibuike Chisom Ozue, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, and Elijah Sunday Okwuonu. The manuscript was written by Felix Atawal Andong, Emelda Obioma Nwankpo, Chibuike Chisom Ozue, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, and Temitope Dadewura Melefa. The laboratory work was conducted by Augustine Okorie Nkemakolam, Funmilayo Faith Hinmikaiye, Emelda Obioma Nwankpo, and Chibuike Chisom Ozue. Data were analyzed by Felix Atawal Andong and Augustine Okorie Nkemakolam. The manuscript was edited by Felix Atawal Andong, Elijah Sunday Okwuonu, Funmilayo Faith Hinmikaiye, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, and Temitope Dadewura Melefa.