Honey and a Mixture of Honey, Beeswax and Olive Oil-propolis Extract in Treatment of Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Although, oral mucositis has been studied for many years, no available treatment has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating mucositis. Based on the observations that honey and other products of honeybees have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and wound healing effects, the present study aims at evaluation of the effect of topical application of honey and a mixture of honey, beeswax and olive oil-propolis extract, as natural products, in treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This is a randomised controlled clinical trial in which eligible patients were randomly assigned into three equal treatment groups. Group 1 received 15 gm honey applied topically to the affected oral mucosa three times daily. Group 2 received 5 gm of a mixture of honey, olive oil-propolis extract and bees wax (HOPE) applied topically to the oral mucosa three times daily. Group 3 served as control and received a 7.5% benzocaine gel applied to the areas of ulcers three times daily.