Plantago major Syrup for Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer
Plantago major Syrup for Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer
Radiation-induced oral mucositis is a painful and common side effect of radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, often limiting treatment tolerance and quality of life. Soltani and colleagues conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate whether Plantago major L. syrup could reduce the severity of mucositis symptoms and associated pain in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
In this trial, patients receiving radiotherapy were assigned to drink either P. major syrup or a placebo syrup daily throughout their course of treatment. The primary outcomes were the severity of oral mucositis assessed using standard scales and patient-reported pain severity scores. By comparing outcomes between the intervention and placebo groups, the study aimed to determine whether P. major offered clinically meaningful relief alongside standard care.
The results showed that patients treated with Plantago major syrup developed significantly less severe mucositis and reported lower pain levels during the radiotherapy period compared with those receiving placebo. These findings suggest that P. major may help mitigate one of the most distressing side effects of head and neck radiation, potentially enabling better treatment adherence and comfort.
Although this clinical trial was relatively small and focused on symptom outcomes rather than survival or long-term sequelae, it provides promising evidence that a natural product like Plantago major syrup could be a well-tolerated adjunct in managing radiation-induced oral mucositis. Larger studies are warranted to confirm efficacy and to further explore its integration into supportive oncology care.
Reference:
Soltani GM, Hemati S, Sarvizadeh M, Kamalinejad M, Tafazoli V, Latifi SA. 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. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jun;51:102397. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102397. PMID: 32507421.
