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Hypericum perforatum extract in burning mouth syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled study
Andrea Sardella1, Giovanni Lodi, Federica Demarosi
1Unit of Oral Pathology and Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. andrea.sardella@unimi.it
Summary
This study found that Hypericum perforatum extract did not significantly reduce burning mouth syndrome (BMS) pain. While some symptoms improved, the treatment was not statistically effective for BMS patients.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Burning mouth syndrome (BMS), or stomatodynia, presents as unexplained oral burning pain.
- Currently, no definitive cause or recognized treatment exists for BMS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of systemic Hypericum perforatum extract for treating BMS.
- To evaluate the impact of H. perforatum on pain intensity and symptom sites in BMS patients.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 39 BMS patients.
- Participants received 300 mg of H. perforatum extract or placebo three times daily for 12 weeks.
- Pain was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS); symptom sites and patient descriptions were also recorded.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in VAS pain scores between the H. perforatum group and placebo (P = 0.2216).
- A significant reduction in the number of reported burning sensation sites was observed, though this was considered a less objective measure.
- The study did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in BMS pain with the tested H. perforatum dosage and duration.
Conclusions:
- Systemic Hypericum perforatum extract at 300 mg three times daily for 12 weeks did not effectively alleviate pain in patients with burning mouth syndrome.
- Further research may be needed to explore alternative dosages, formulations, or patient subgroups for potential benefits.
- The findings suggest that H. perforatum may not be a reliable treatment for the primary pain symptom of BMS.
