Mucositis is a complication in patients receiving radiation to their head and neck to treat cancer. Mucositis affects the tissue in the mouth and throat regions that can result in painful ulcers.
Left untreated these ulcers can lead to infection and even sepsis (i.e. infection in the bloodstream).
There are different recommendations to treat mucositis including combinations of ingredients to make ‘magic mouthwash’ which can contain lidocaine, Benadryl (diphenhydramine), nystatin, as well as other ingredients. 
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is well known for its liver protecting effects that often contains the following phytochemicals:
– Silybin A
– Silybin B
– Isosilybin A
– Silydianin
– Silychristin A
– Silychristin B
A recent clinical trial tested Milk thistle (Silymarin) for reducing oral mucositis and improving healing.
Here are the study details:
– Study Design: Double Blind, balanced randomized, p;lacebo-controlled
– Radiation dose: Patients received 50-70 Gy to at least have of the oral cavity
– Milk thistle, Silymarin tablets contained 140 mg of silymarin flavonolignas three times daily for 6 weeks.
Here are the main results of milk thistle for mucositis:
– Silymarin was able to delay mucositis development
– Silymarin was able to delay mucositis progression
Here were comments from the authors of the study:
The WHO and NCI-CTC mucositis scale scores were significantly lower in silymarin group comparing with placebo group in weekly evaluations of the first 6 weeks after initiation of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer (p < 0.005).
It should be noted that none of the patient in silymarin group experienced grade 4 mucositis based on both scales, but it happened in four patients of placebo group and intolerable mucositis (stage 3 and 4) cases were considerably more prevalent in placebo groups at the end of the fifth and sixth of radiotherapy. So, it seems that silymarin could reduce the severity of radiotherapy induced mucositis.
Take away message:
The study suggests there could be a benefit with silymarin at a dose of 420 mg given three times a day for reducing mucositis in patients receiving head and neck radiation therapy. Future studies will be required to determine if silymarin could help patients from mucuositis caused by radiation therapy.
Reference:
Phytotherapy Research. 2016; Volume 30 (Issue 11): Pages 1879-1885.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Cholesterol, Clinical Trials, Detoxification, Herbs