Efficacy of the plantago major L. syrup on radiation induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Introduction: Oral mucositis is a complication of radiation therapy in cancer patients. We designed a trial to evaluate efficacy of plantago major on symptoms of radiation induced mucositis in cancer patients.

Methods: In this randomized double blind, placebo-controlled trial 23 patients received plantago major syrup as intervention group and 23 patients received placebo syrup as control group for 7 weeks. Outcome measures were severity of mucositis according to WHO scale and severity of patients' pain assessed by visual analogue scale.

Results: Severity of mucositis were significantly lower in intervention group compared to placebo group (p value<0.05). Also patients in intervention group experienced significantly less pain compared to placebo group during radiotherapy period (p value<0.05) CONCLUSION: Plantago major L syrup was effective on the reduction of the symptoms of radiation induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers.

Keywords: Cancer; Clinical trial; Herbal medicine; Mucositis; Persian medicine; Plantago major L..