Effect of areca nut on rabbit oral mucosa: evidence of oral precancerous condition by protein expression and genotoxic analysis

Histological characteristics, comet assay and protein profile show the development of OSMF-like features in the mucosal tissue of rabbit followed by areca nut treatment. The increased expression of collagen alpha-1(I) chain in areca nut-treated rabbit correlated with the progressive development of the OSMF symptoms in the rabbit buccal mucosa, which might serve as a potential biological marker in the pathological development of OSMF.