Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38781255›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2024

Clinical efficacy and applicability of natural products in the treatment and prevention of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis: A systematic review.

Wen Zhang, Lu Fan, Yifang Xie, Tenghui Gao, Jieping Zeng

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Wen ZhangPhase I Clinical Research Unit, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Lu FanPhase I Clinical Research Unit, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yifang XiePhase I Clinical Research Unit, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Tenghui GaoPhase I Clinical Research Unit, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jieping ZengPhase I Clinical Research Unit, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0009-0007-5569-9954

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to describe the efficacy and acceptability of natural products in the management of oral mucositis caused by radiation. From the day it started to August 7, 2023, a thorough search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was carried out among seven databases: the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, OVID, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and the CINAHL database. Only English-language articles were identified during the search. Using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, version 2, two researchers screened the articles, collected information on study characteristics, and appraised risks of bias. The data were analyzed and descriptively presented with a narrative synthesis methodology involving the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) reporting element applied in detail. The PROSPERO registration number of this study is CRD42023476932. Thirty-six clinical trials were included in the study; the included studies included a variety of 20 types of natural products. Honey and Curcuma longa were the most commonly assessed natural products. A total of 2,400 participants reported taking part in therapy with natural products for oral mucositis. Natural products demonstrated substantial efficacy in terms of influencing intensity, incidence, pain score, quality of life, and symptoms such as xerostomia and dysphagia. Except for manuka honey, most natural products were well accepted. Regarding the clinical trials' risk of bias, 2 clinical trials (5.56%) had a high risk of bias, 17 studies (47.2%) had a low risk of bias, and 17 studies (47.2%) were rated with "some concern." Natural remedies work well as alternate treatments for managing oral mucositis caused by radiation therapy. However, additional clinical trials are still needed. The safety of these conventional medications as well as their effectiveness and safety when used in combination with other conventional or naturopathic therapies should be fully examined.

Indexed as

Biological ProductsRadiotherapyStomatitisHumansQuality of LifeRadiation InjuriesRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeBiological Products

Identifiers

PMID38781255
PMCPMC11115216

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.