Protective Effects of Moringa oleifera-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots Against Cigarette Smoke Condensate-Induced Genotoxicity and Inflammation in Oral Mucosa

Abstract Cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) exposure can induce oral mucosal injury through inflammatory and genotoxic mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Moringa oleifera-derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) against CSC-induced oral mucosal injury by assessing mucosal alterations, micronucleus formation, nuclear abnormalities, interleukin (IL)-1β levels, and histopathological changes in an in vivo rat model. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups (n = 5): healthy control, CSC control, triamcinolone control, and CQDs-treated groups at ratios of 1:10, 1:20, and 1:30. Oral mucosal injury was induced by CSC exposure for 30 days, followed by topical treatment for 21 days. Evaluations were performed on days 7, 14, and 21. CSC significantly increased mucosal damage, micronucleus formation, nuclear abnormalities, IL-1β levels, and histopathological injury (p < 0.05). CQDs treatment reduced these alterations in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. On day 21, micronucleus frequency decreased from 55 ± 8.11 per 1,000 cells in the CSC group to 8 ± 2.40 in the CQDs 1:30 group, while IL-1β levels decreased from 146.5 ± 1.47 to 50.2 ± 0.48 pg/mL. Histopathological findings showed reduced epithelial damage and inflammatory infiltration. M. oleifera-derived CQDs attenuated CSC-induced inflammatory and genotoxic oral mucosal injury, supporting their potential as a phytonano-based topical protective strategy.