apigenin and Mucositis

To clinically assess the effectiveness of topical chamomile oral gel in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.. A parallel single-blind randomized clinical trial conducted on 45 patients who were undergoing chemotherapy. Patients were assigned to three equal groups. Group I received conventional symptomatic treatment that included antifungal agents (Miconaz oral gel, Medical Union Pharmaceuticals), topical anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory agent (BBC oral spray, Amoun Pharmaceutical Company) three times per day for three weeks, group II received 3% chamomile topical oral gel, whereas group III patients were given both conventional symptomatic treatment and chamomile topical oral gel. All patients were clinically assessed for pain and oral mucositis severity at three separate time intervals: 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks.. Most patients experienced oral mucositis with more severity reported in the conventional group (grade III = 6.7%) compared to the other two groups, neither of which developed more than grade II. Mean pain scores showed no significant difference between the groups, but intragroup analysis showed that pain score increased in the conventional treatment group more than the other two groups.. Topical chamomile 3% gel has demonstrated in this study to lower the severity of the mucositis with lower pain scores compared to the other two groups.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Chamomile; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Mucositis; Single-Blind Method; Stomatitis

Compounds that prevent radiation-induced mucositis may offer new therapeutic strategies for maintaining intestinal integrity in patients undergoing radiotherapy. A specially formulated chamomile extract was studied with the hope of proving efficacy in this regard. Intestinal mucositis was induced in rats by exposing them to whole body gamma-irradiation. Rats were treated orally with the extract for 5 days before and 2 days after radiation exposure. One day later, rats were sacrificed. Histological examination of segments of small intestine showed shortening and fusion of villi, activation of mucus secreting glands, inflammatory cell infiltration of lamina propria, and mucosal atrophy. Intestinal homogenates showed an increase in tumor necrosis factor, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and myeloperoxidase, an indicator of cellular infiltration, as well as in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and a reduction in glutathione content. Intestinal injury was further evidenced by an increase in diamine oxidase and a reduction in citrulline levels in the serum. A rise in apoptosis was evidenced by an increase in cytosolic cytochrome c, caspase-3, and depletion of mitochondrial B-cell lymphoma-2/ Bax ratio. Most histological changes and associated derangement in related parameters were largely prevented by the chamomile extract, thus paving the way to a new therapeutic approach towards the management of radiation-induced intestinal mucositis.

Topics: Animals; Chamomile; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Male; Mucositis; Plant Extracts; Radiation Injuries; Radiation-Protective Agents; Rats; Rats, Wistar