Herbal mouthwashes for oral mucositis in cancer therapy: A systematic review

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is a distressing and often debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, significantly impacting the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This review aims to evaluate existing data on the impact of herbal mouthwashes in managing OM in cancer patients. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted in top electronic databases, such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, for articles published between 2013 and 2023. The search employed keywords such as "herbal mouthwash," "oral mucositis," and "cancer." The review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Results: This review included 11 studies. The herbal ingredients used in the mouthwashes varied across studies, including chamomile, peppermint, aloe vera, turmeric, and curcumin. The outcomes assessed included the time of onset, duration, incidence, and severity of OM. Findings indicated promising efficacy in reducing the severity of OM, relieving pain, and promoting wound healing. Conclusion: Although herbal interventions show promise in managing OM, the variability in study designs, herbal formulations, and reporting practices highlights the need for further research and standardization in this area.