Lung histopathological profile of male albino Wistar rats exposed to tobacco smoke administered ethanolic extract of red spinach

Background: Exposure to tobacco smoke, which contains free radicals, can cause oxidative stress in the lung. Oxidative stress can trigger lung inflammation due to dilation of the alveolar lumen, alveolar wall thickening, and inflammatory cellular infiltration. Red spinach (Alternanthera amoena Voss.) leaves have antioxidant activity in vitro, with IC50 = 4.32 μg/mL. Objective: To assess the antioxidant activity of red spinach in male albino Wistar rats. Methods: The rats were divided into five test groups of five rats each: the negative control (1% Na-CMC suspension), the positive control (vitamin C suspension), and three experimental groups receiving red spinach leaves at a dose of 200 mg/Kg BW, 400 mg/Kg BW, and 600 mg/Kg BW, respectively. All the rats were exposed to tobacco smoke for 14 days using three cigarettes in a smoking chamber. The right lung was taken for histopathology. Results: The results showed that doses of 200 mg/Kg BW, 400 mg/Kg BW, and 600 mg/Kg BW could reduce the level of lung damage, i.e. the enlarged alveolar lumen, thickened alveolar wall, and inflammatory cellular infiltration. Conclusion: The dose of 600 mg/Kg BW was effective in reducing the level of lung damage compared to the negative control.