FORMALDEHYDE EXPOSURE INDUCED NASAL HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES AND THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF HARITAKI KWATHA (TERMINALIA CHEBULA) IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background: Formaldehyde (formalin) vapour is a volatile, highly water-soluble irritant to which dissection-hall personnel are repeatedly exposed, and the nasal mucosa is its principal site of deposition. Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) is an Ayurvedic Rasayana with reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity. Objective: To evaluate formaldehyde-induced nasal epithelial changes through histopathological examination and assess the preventive and curative efficacy of Haritaki Kwatha in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups of six: control, disease control, preventive and curative. The disease control and preventive groups were exposed to 37% formaldehyde vapour for 2 h/day for 30 days. The preventive group received Haritaki kwatha 2 ml/day concurrently, while the curative group received formaldehyde exposure for 30 days followed by Haritaki kwatha for 30 days. Nasal mucosa was evaluated histopathologically, along with body weight and behavioural changes. Results: The disease-control group showed epithelial irregularity and degeneration, reduced goblet cells, distortion of Bowman’s glands, disorganisation of olfactory neurons, inflammatory infiltration, vascular congestion and oedema. The preventive group showed mild epithelial changes with largely preserved glands and neurons. The curative group showed near-normal epithelial architecture, preserved goblet cells and Bowman’s glands, and minimal inflammation. Body weight was lowest in the disease-control group and approached control values in the curative group. Conclusion: Repeated formaldehyde exposure produced significant structural changes in the nasal mucosa of Wistar albino rats.Simultaneous administration of Haritaki kwatha reduced these changes, while post-exposure administration was associated with near-normal histological features, suggesting preventive and restorative effects.