Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common subacute, chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of the oral mucosa with unknown etiopathogenesis. Currently, the antioxidants such as retinoids, β-carotenoids, Aloe vera, purslane, turmeric, and lycopene are being successfully used in the treatment of OLP lesions, suggesting the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of OLP.
Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effects of lycopene in the management of OLP lesions.
Materials and Methods: After obtaining written informed consent, 13 patients with symptomatic OLP and proven by biopsy were received capsule lycopene 4 mg/day for 8 consecutive weeks. The assessment was done at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of the interval using Thongprasom clinical sign scores to record the improvement in the clinical sign and symptoms of OLP lesions. Complete remission of the disease was defined as a complete absence of symptom and clinical sign scores of OLP lesions.
Results: Among 13 patients, seven patients were male. The age ranged from 27 to 74 years. At baseline, the mean Thongprasom clinical sign score was 2.77 ± 1.74 that became 0.85 ± 0.37 (69%) after 8 weeks of treatment with lycopene, which was statistically significant (P = 0.005). Complete remission of the lesions was seen in two patients, and partial remission was seen in 11 patients after 8 consecutive weeks of treatment with lycopene.
Conclusion: The result of this study was encouraging. In contrast to other management modalities for OLP, lycopene offers a safe, efficacious, and reliable treatment that yields a significant improvement in the signs and symptoms of the patients, which may be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, lycopene can be recommended as a good treatment option in the prevention and management of OPL lesions.
Clinical Significance: Finding from this study may help the dentist and clinician to choose lycopene as an alternative drug with less reported adverse effect for the effective management and prevention of OLP lesions
Key words: Antioxidant, lycopene, oral lichen planus, reactive oxygen species, treatment, β-carotenoid
How to cite this article: Kushwaha RP, Rauniar GP, Rimal J. Clinical Assessment of the Effects of Lycopene in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus. Int Dent Med J Adv Res 2019;5:1-5.
Received: 26 June 18;
Accepted: 03 November 18