According to a new study by Stanford University School of Medicine, a compound found in citrus oil may help relieve dry mouth symptoms caused by radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients. The oil cells of citrus peel are rich in essential oils, about 0.5% to 2% of the fresh weight of the peel. The main ingredient of citrus essential oil is d-limonene (d-Limonene), and the main role for radioactive dry mouth is d-limonene.
This compound, called d-limonene, protects saliva cells of mice exposed to radiation therapy without weakening the effects of radiation on tumors. Researchers led by Julie Saiki have also shown that oral d-limonene can be transported to the salivary glands of the body. A series of experiments with mouse cells exposed to radiation showed that d-limonene reduced the concentration of aldehydes in adult and salivary stem and progenitor cells. Even when cells are treated for several weeks after radiation exposure, d-limonene can still improve its recovery ability, repair glandular structure and produce saliva. Mice receiving d-limonene and exposed to radiation also produced more saliva than mice not receiving d-limonene and exposed to radiation.
Oko 40% pacijenata s karcinomom glave i vrata koji su podvrgnuti radioterapiji pati od kserostomije, koja ne samo da je neugodna, već i otežava pacijentima govor i gutanje, a vjerojatnije pati od bolova u ustima ili karijesa, a kod nekih slučajevi Može prouzročiti gubitak zuba. Štoviše, iako može doći do određenog oporavka u prvih nekoliko godina nakon liječenja, nakon što slina postane oslabljena, na nju će se obično utjecati cijeli život. Naknadno istraživanje je u tijeku, a ako djeluje, lijek će se sigurno koristiti za dugotrajnu prevenciju suhoće usta i olakšati pacijentima toleriranje zračenja nakon liječenja i poboljšati kvalitetu života.
