Clinical Effectiveness of Aloe Vera in the Management of Oral Mucosal Diseases- A Systematic Review
Authors
Gopakumar Nair
Ex-Professor and Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute, Sakri, Bilaspur, India.
Giridhar Naidu
Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute, Sakri, Bilaspur, India.
Supreet Jain
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute, Sakri, Bilaspur, India.
Ravleen Nagi
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute, Sakri, Bilaspur, India.
Ramanpal Makkad
Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute, Sakri, Bilaspur, India.
Abhishek Jha
Senior Lecturer, Department of Preventive and community Dentistry, New Horizon Dental College and Research Institute, Sakri, Bilaspur, India.
Introduction
Aloe vera is well known for its medicinal properties which lead to its application in treating various diseases. Its use in treating oral lesions has not been much documented in literature.
Aim
Although, systematic reviews on aloe vera and its extracts have been done earlier, but in relation to oral diseases this is the first systematic review. The aim of the present systematic review was to compile evidence based studies on the effectiveness of Aloe vera in treatment of various oral diseases.
Materials and Methods
Computerized literature searches were performed to identify all published articles in the subject. The following databases were used: PUBMED [MEDLINE], SCOPUS, COCHRANE DATABASE, EMBASE and SCIENCE DIRECT using specific keywords. The search was limited to articles published in English or with an English Abstract. All articles (or abstracts if available as abstracts) were read in full. Data were extracted in a predefined fashion. Assessment was done using Jadad score.
Results
Fifteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Population of sample study ranged from 20 patients to 110 patients with clinically diagnosed oral mucosal lesions. Out of 15 studies, five were on patients with oral lichen planus, two on patients with oral submucous fibrosis, other studies were carried on patients with burning mouth syndrome, radiation induced mucositis, candida associated denture stomatitis, xerostomic patients and four were on minor recurrent apthous stomatitis. Most studies showed statistically significant result demonstrating the effectiveness of Aloe vera in treatment of oral diseases.
Conclusion
Although there are promising results but in future, more controlled clinical trials are required to prove the effectiveness of Aloe vera for management of oral diseases.
Keywords: Ayurveda, Burning mouth syndrome, Herbs, Oral lichen planus, Oral mucosa
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