Assessment of Genotoxic Effects in Buccal Cells of Tobacco Users via Micronuclei Assay: A Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Kalaburagi

Introduction: Oral cancer continues to pose a major public health challenge in India, driven by excessive tobacco consumption. Current study investigates the genotoxic effects of tobacco consumption—both smoked and smokeless—by analysing micronuclei (MN) frequency in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells. Materials & methods: The study involved 201 individuals who were divided into two distinct groups: smokers and users of smokeless tobacco. Buccal cell samples were collected and processed using the Papanicolaou staining technique, and MN were identified based on Tolbert’s criteria. Results: This study revealed that smokers exhibited a significantly higher mean MN count (7.18) compared to smokeless tobacco users (3.8), indicating greater chromosomal damage. Melanosis was the most common clinical sign among smokers (84.8%), while 30% of smokeless tobacco users showed no clinical symptoms. The prevalence of MN exceeding 10 was notably higher among smokers with melanosis. Age-wise analysis showed younger individuals (18–30 years) predominantly preferred smoking, while older individuals leaned towards smokeless tobacco. Conclusion: The data indicate that smoked tobacco carries a greater genotoxic risk than smokeless types. The micronucleus assay is recognized as a reliable and non-invasive method for the early identification of genotoxic alterations.