Abstract

Background: Oral mucositis is one of the most uncomfortable and common complications of chemotherapy. Inflammation which is initiated by release of free radicals from oral mucosal tissue exposed to anticancer drug is involved in the development of oral mucositis. Therefore, it is expected that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of sesame oil may be effective for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. In the present study, effects of topical application of sesame oil on the chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis were evaluated.
Methods: Sesame oil of Japanese Pharmacopoeia grade was applied to 7 hematopoietic cancer patients during chemotherapy for 14 days by swabbing more than 3 times a day after ordinary oral hygiene. 4 hematopoietic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at the same time acted as control. Objective and subjective symptoms, grade of oral mucositis, cytological change of the smear of oral mucosa and subjects’ impressions about sesame oil application were evaluated.
Results: Only one subject developed oral mucositis in the sesame oil application group whereas 2 subjects developed oral mucositis in the control group. Additionally, oral mucositis in the subjecst in sesame oil application group occurred after the termination of sesame oil application and healed by restarting the application of sesame oil. Average grade of oral mucositis of sesame oil application group was lower than that of control group. Cytological examination revealed that inflammatory change was reduced in sesame oil application group compared to control group. 5 of 7 subjects who had experienced mucositis in previous chemotherapy session felt that sesame oil was effective for the prevention of oral mucositis.
Conclusion: Topical application of sesame oil is suggested to be useful for the prevention of chemotherapyinduced oral mucositis. Reduced inflammatory change was considered to be implicated in its preventive effect.