Efficacy and Safety of Topical Chamomile in Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus

Abstract

Background: Management of oral lichen planus remains a clinical challenge. Topical corticosteroids are considered as the first-line therapy, but have undesirable side effects. Chamomile is a herbal remedy that has high treatment success potential due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Aim: This study aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of topical chamomile cream versus triamcinolone acetonide in the management of OLP. Subjects and Methods: This RCT included 34 patients with OLP who were randomly assigned to receive either 2% chamomile cream or 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in orabase. The outcomes assessed were pain reduct ion measured by the numerical rating scale and clinical improvement assessed by Thongprasom scale. Patients were evaluated at baseline, after 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. Results: There was a statistically significantly improvement in pain score, total lesion size and Thongprasom score in both groups. However, comparison between the 2 groups resulted in no significant difference for all the outcomes, although TA had a better and faster clinical effect than Chamomile. Conclusion: Topical application of 2% chamomile cream can be used as a second line-treatment for OLP.

Comparison of topical purslane & topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in the management of oral lichen planus - a double blinded clinical trial

“…Choonhakarn et al, compared the efficacy of aloe vera gel with a placebo in treating oral lichen Planus [ 21 ]. Nashat et al, assessed the clinical effectiveness of topical 2% chamomile cream with 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide [ 22 ].…”