Herbal medicine in oral lichen planus

Phytother Res. 2019 Feb;33(2):288-293. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6236. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory and T cell-mediated autoimmune disease in which the oral mucosa, tongue, and gingiva are involved. Different treatments have been suggested to reduce the symptoms of this disease. Currently, a common treatment for OLP is the use of corticosteroids as the gold standard, although they have considerable side effects. The chronicity of the disease needs the long-term use of these drugs with ensuing side effects. Therefore, various studies have been done to find an alternative and effective treatment. The use of herbal medicine as an alternative therapy with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties seems promising. Hence, this review study was done to summarize the efficiency of different herbal medicine in the treatment of OLP.

Keywords: alternative treatment; herbal medicine; oral lichen planus.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / epidemiology
  • Gingiva / drug effects
  • Gingiva / pathology
  • Herbal Medicine / methods*
  • Humans
  • Lichen Planus, Oral / drug therapy*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Plant Extracts