Effectiveness of natural-based products for radiation-induced oral mucositis therapy: A systematic review

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #deglutition-disorders #head-and-neck-neoplasms #radiation-injuries #randomized-controlled-trials-as-topic

Effectiveness of natural-based products for radiation-induced oral mucositis therapy: A systematic review

Pranadwista et al., 2023 | Cancer Treat Res Commun | Systematic Review

Citation

Pranadwista Zulfa Fidi, Nur'aeny Nanan. Effectiveness of natural-based products for radiation-induced oral mucositis therapy: A systematic review. Cancer Treat Res Commun. 2023;36:100720. doi:10.1016/j.ctarc.2023.100720

Abstract

Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is one of the common toxic reactions from ionizing radiation and normal tissue injuries as a complication of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is an option for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). The use of natural products is an alternative therapy for RIOM. This review aimed to describe the effectiveness of natural-based products (NBPs) in reducing the severity, pain score, incidence, oral lesion size, and other symptoms such as dysphagia, dysarthria, and odynophagia. This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Ebscohost-CINAHL Plus databases were used for article searches. The inclusion criteria were studies published from 2012 to 2022 with full text available, in English, a study in humans, and a Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) that evaluate the effect of NBPs therapy in RIOM patients diagnosed with HNC. This study's population was HNC patients who had oral mucositis after receiving radiation or chemical therapy. The NBPs were manuka honey, thyme honey, aloe vera, calendula, zataria multiflora, Plantago major L., and turmeric. Eight of the twelve included articles showed significant effectiveness against RIOM in various parameters, such as a decrease in severity, incidence rate, pain score, oral lesion size, and the other symptoms of oral mucositis such as dysphagia and burning mouth syndrome. This review concludes that NBPs therapy is effective for RIOM in HNC patients.

Key Findings

This review concludes that NBPs therapy is effective for RIOM in HNC patients.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Deglutition Disorders
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms
  • Radiation Injuries
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Stomatitis

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: curcumin

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09