USE OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE LINN BARK EXTRACT IN THE TREATMENT OF ORAL LICHEN PLANUS: CONTROLLED AND RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
Lichen Planus, Oral; Therapeutics; Phytotherapeutic Drugs; Anacardium.
The oral lichen planus (OLP) is an immunologically mediated disease of uncertain etiology, displaying varied clinical characteristics, usually asymptomatic, but in erosive and atrophic forms, it is associated with painful symptoms. These clinical forms need to be treated, and the treatment is symptomatic, mainly based on corticosteroids, which can trigger a series of adverse effects when used continuously. Herbal medicines are being investigated as a treatment option for various oral environmental diseases, including OLP. The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of Anacardium occidentale Linn (cashew bark) in the treatment of symptomatic OLP lesions. For this purpose, a controlled, randomized, cross-sectional, and single-blind clinical trial will be conducted through clinical investigation in patients diagnosed with erosive-type OLP. These patients will be randomly allocated to two groups: an experimental group, where patients will receive a gel based on cashew bark extract, and a control group in which patients will be treated with a gel containing clobetasol propionate (0.05%), both compounded. To analyze the efficacy of the treatment, patients will be monitored weekly, and a clinical score and visual analog scale will be applied to assess pain intensity. With the development of this study, therapeutic alternatives are sought that can offer similar or superior benefits to conventional treatments, ensuring safety and efficacy.