Plant-Derived Polyphenols to Prevent and Treat Oral Mucositis Induced by Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers Management

Abstract

Simple Summary Oral Mucositis, a debilitating side effect of radio and chemotherapy for head and neck cancers, involves inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes in the oral cavity. This condition often leads to severe pain, difficulty in eating, and compromised quality of life for cancer patients. The use of natural compounds such as polyphenols has shown promise in preventing and alleviating Oral Mucositis as they possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and healing properties, capable of mitigating the adverse effects of chemo and radiotherapy on the oral mucosa. The recent literature suggests that integrating these natural compounds into treatment regimens may help manage Oral Mucositis, offering a potential adjuvant therapy to improve a patient's quality of life and overall well-being during cancer treatment.Abstract Oral Mucositis (OM) is the most common side effect due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are the conventional treatment options for head and neck cancers. OM is a severe inflammatory condition characterized by multifactorial etiopathogenesis. It further negatively affects patients' quality of life by severe impairment of normal oral functions. Consequently, it is mandatory to identify new effective therapeutic approaches to both prevent and treat OM while also avoiding any recurrence. Polyphenols recently attracted the interest of the scientific community due to their low toxicity and wide range of biological activities making them ideal candidates for several applications in the odontostomatological field, particularly against OM. This review collects the in vivo studies and the clinical trials conducted over the past 13 years evaluating the preventive and curative effects of several polyphenolic compounds towards chemo- and radiotherapy-induced OM, both when administered alone or as a plant-extracted phytocomplex. The literature fully confirms the usefulness of these molecules, thus opening the possibility of their clinical application. However, polyphenol limitations (e.g., unfavourable physicochemical properties and susceptibility to degradation) have emerged. Consequently, the interest of the scientific community should be focused on developing innovative delivery systems able to stabilize polyphenols, thus facilitating topical administration and maximizing their efficacy.