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.
放射線治療を受けている頭頸部がん患者の約 40% は口腔乾燥症に苦しんでいます。これは不快なだけでなく、患者が話すことや飲み込むことを困難にし、口の痛みや虫歯に苦しむ可能性が高くなります。歯を失う可能性があります。 さらに、治療後最初の数年間はある程度の回復が見られる場合もありますが、唾液の機能が低下すると、通常は生涯にわたり影響を受けます。 その後の研究も進行中であり、効果があれば、この薬は長期的に口渇を予防し、患者が治療後の放射線療法に耐えやすくなり、生活の質を改善するために安全に使用されることになる。
