Intensive care medicine

Surgery

Internal medicine

Pharmacology

Chemotherapy

Cancer therapy

Medicine

Mucositis

Cancer

Traditional medicine

Phytotherapy Research

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.

The effects of herbal medicines on cancer therapy<scp>‐induced</scp> oral mucositis: A literature review

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