The effects of herbal medicines on cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis: A literature review.

Saba Safarzadeh, Farinaz Shirban, Mohammad Bagherniya, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Amirhossein Sahebkar

Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR 2022;36(1):243-265

PMID: 34709682

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Abstract

Cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most troublesome morbidities after radio-chemotherapy. Age, nutritional status, tumor type, oral hygiene, and treatment method are the determinants for OM incidence. In addition, oxygen-free radicals can act as a trigger for an inflammatory milieu that causes OM. Based on the debilitating nature of OM, finding a safe and inexpensive agent with anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidative properties can be valuable for this situation. Considering the harmful effects of some chemical agents, herbal medicine has been suggested as a potential alternative owing to unique properties such as safety, availability and low cost. Many studies have illustrated several pharmacological properties of herbal medicines in recent years, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antioxidative activities, which are essential factors in the palliation of cancer therapy-induced OM. This review aimed to evaluate herbal medicines' effects on cancer therapy-induced OM. According to this comprehensive review, it is concluded that medicinal plants and phytochemicals can be used as practical agents in the palliation of cancer therapy-induced OM without any serious side effects.

Address: Post Graduate Student, Dental Students' Research Committee, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Center, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Anesthesia and Critical Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.; Department of Academic Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.; School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7308

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MeSH Terms: Herbal Medicine, Neoplasms, Phytotherapy, Plants, Medicinal, Stomatitis