
An adhesive derived from green tea has shown promise as a treatment for oral mucositis (inflammation of the mouth) in a new study.
Green tea has previously been found to have anti-inflammatory properties as it contains anti-oxidants called catechins. Building on this, researchers at the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) explored the potential for using these catechins to treat oral mucositis.
Oral mucositis causes painful inflammation in the mouth which can affect patients’ ability to eat and sleep. It is a common side effect of cancer treatment, affecting 30-40% of patients. Catechins have been shown to neutralise harmful free radicals generated during chemotherapy.
Takehisa Hanawa, research team leader, said: ‘Our goal was to create a formulation for oral mucositis that patients could use easily and comfortably, helping to prevent the decline in quality of life and difficulties with eating caused by cancer treatments.’
Green tea is ‘convenient, inexpensive and user-friendly’
The researchers developed a thin film enriched with green tea catechins which adheres to the oral mucosa to provide relief. They described it as ‘a more convenient, inexpensive, and user-friendly alternative to mucoadhesive tablets, which often have limited usability’.
The film contained xyloglucan, a gelling agent extracted from Tamarind seeds which replicate the mucin network in the mouth. This provides the mucoadhesive property that allows the film to stick to the inside of the mouth.
The xyloglucan was combined with green tea extract which contains more than 75% catechins.
The researchers tested the film’s adhesive strength by simulating oral conditions using mucin disks coated with artificial saliva. The film was pressed onto the disk and the force required to remove it measured. The films adhered well – detachment forces were the same or better than those of over-the-counter products.
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