Influence of Cigarette Smoking on the Activity of Salivary Alpha-Amylase

Introduction: Tobacco smoke is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases in different body systems. Saliva is the first body fluid that confront inhaled cigarette smoke which is injurious to the oral cavity and is associated with several oral diseases and cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of smoking on the activity of alpha-amylase in the saliva of healthy smoker individuals. Material & Methods: alpha-amylase was measured in the supernatant of centrifuged saliva of 25 volunteer smokers, before and just after smoking a single cigarette using the standard chemical methods. Results: The enzymatic activity showed a significant inhibition following a single cigarette. Reduction in the enzymatic activity of saliva is most probably due to the interaction between smoke aldehydes and –SH groups of the enzyme molecules. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained from the present study, it could be emphasized that smoking just one cigarette is sufficient to alter the salivary alpha- mylase enzymatic activities.