TOBACCO PRODUCTS: CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPARATIVE HARMFULNESS

Tobacco consumption is a major social health problem in India as well as throughout the world, because it harms both health and wealth of an addict. Tobacco is a Sthavara Patra Visha received from the plant Nicotiana tobacum/ Nicotiana rusticum leaves by curing them. Tobacco contains an alkaloid nicotine in abundant amount, which is sufficient to make addict like alcohol, cocaine and morphine. There are so many different forms of smoking and smokeless tobacco in India, like cigarette, bidi, gutka, jarda, pan masala etc. Long timed use of Tobacco like adductive products by oral route, acts as a slow poison (Dushi Visha) induces chronic toxicity to the gastrointestinal tract like oral diseases, gingivitis and periodontitis, Leukoplakia (precancerous stage), and may lead to cancer also in advance stage. This chronic toxicity affects cardiovascular system and results as increasing coronary blood flow, heart rate and blood pressure which may trigger the chances of heart attack rate in addict person. Before we can do any effort for reducing toxicity produced by tobacco products its mandatory to knowing the basic knowledge of tobacco products, their chemical composition, their mechanism of action with comparative toxicity and specific tobacco product related to a specific mouth part cancer. Because we can’t stop a person to start tobacco use but we can circulate the knowledge of tobacco products in adolescent groups so that when the beginner chose a tobacco product, he will be aware about the toxicity and affecting organ because of its use. So that, the toxicity can be minimised. Keywords: Tobacco consumption, nicotine, slow poison, cancer, comparative toxicity