Pathological Changes among Norvegicus Rattus Exposed on Novel Smoked Bambusa Vulgaris (Bamboo) Leaf: Cigarette Substitute during COVID-19 Lockdown in Nigeria

Background: This research titled; Pathology changes among Norvegicus Rattus exposed on novel smoked Bambusa vulgaris: Cigarette substitute during COVID 19 lockdown in Nigeria is stimulated following increase use of the aforementioned substances as a substitute to drugs during covid -19 lock down in Nigeria where a number of psychoactive substances were limited and restricted for months, both known addicts to cannabis and cigarette smoking and frustration induced initial smokers engaged massively on the use of bamboo leaf and that had continued after years of the lockdown.

Methods: The experimental subjects were grouped into acute and chronic for both smoked and the control. Norvegicus rattus subjects were exposed to the 0.01g/g bamboo vulgaris dry leaf smoke twice daily for 21 and 42 days (acute and chronic) exposure respectively. The Animals were sacrificed and the organs harvested following ethical procedures for animal killing. The brain and lungs were divided and parts subjected into histopathological examination using formalin fixed paraffin processed methods stained with both routine and special stains, and the other parts were homogenized to investigate the oxidative stress biomarkers.

Results: Histopathology results first revealed a severe cellular injury in both lungs and brain compare to the normal control; significance (p<0.5) elevation found in MDA and reduced SOD, Gpx, GSH and catalase correlate the histology results with oxidative stress biomarkers.

Conclusion: Smoking Bambusa vulgaris dry leaf is been found in this study to be more harmful to the respiratory system and brain in more rapid manner compared to conventional abused substances and should be discourage using state agency and enlightenment campaign