Comparative Efficacy of Aloe vera and Benzydamine Mouthwashes
Comparative Efficacy of Aloe vera and Benzydamine Mouthwashes on Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis: A Triple-Blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial
Oral mucositis—painful inflammation and ulceration of the mouth lining—is a common side effect of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients. In this triple-blind trial, Sahebjamee et al. compared the effectiveness of an Aloe vera mouthwash versus a benzydamine mouthwash in 26 patients undergoing conventional radiotherapy. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of the two mouthwash groups, and mucositis severity was evaluated using the standard World Health Organization (WHO) grading system throughout the course of treatment.
At baseline, both groups showed similar patterns in mucositis development: the mean time until onset was 15.69 ± 7.77 days for Aloe vera and 15.85 ± 12.96 days for benzydamine. Likewise, the time to reach maximum mucositis severity was nearly identical: 23.38 ± 10.75 days versus 23.54 ± 15.45 days.
Over the course of radiation therapy, both mouthwashes yielded equivalent outcomes: there was no statistically significant difference in the progression or severity of mucositis between the groups (p = 0.09). In other words, Aloe vera relieved symptoms just as effectively as the standard benzydamine treatment, without any reported side effects.
In summary, this trial suggests that Aloe vera mouthwash may serve as a safe and effective alternative to benzydamine for managing radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer—offering a natural option with comparable efficacy.
References
Sahebjamee M, Mansourian A, Hajimirzamohammad M, et al. Comparative Efficacy of Aloe vera and Benzydamine Mouthwashes on Radiation-induced Oral Mucositis: A Triple-blind, Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial [published correction appears in Oral Health Prev Dent. 2016;14(3):274. Mohammad, Haji Mirza Mohammad [corrected to Hajimizamohammad, Mohammad]]. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2015;13(4):309‐315.
By Dr. Sydney Moffat, ND and Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO(USA)
