Effectiveness of Lemon Verbena (Cymbopogon citratus) in Oral Candidiasis: A Systematic Review

The rise of phytotherapy has enabled the utilization of various plant species for medicinal purposes, such as Cymbopogon citratus (C. citratus), providing solutions for oral pathologies, such as oral candidiasis. The PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO databases were searched. In vivo and in vitro studies on the action of C. citratus against oral candidiasis were included, and ROBINS-I was used to determine study quality and risk of bias. The search yielded 1922 articles, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. Limited scientific evidence exists regarding the use of C. citratus for oral candidiasis. However, studies have indicated its potent antifungal effects. Further studies, preferably clinical trials, are necessary to confirm this effect and to enable its clinical use as a therapeutic option.