Plant leads for mitigation of oral submucous fibrosis: Current scenario and future prospect.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this review is to enumerate medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds that may become potential leads in the mitigation of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) in the forthcoming future. It is focused on pathophysiology, risk factors, current treatment regimen, potential plant leads, and future therapies for OSMF. Data were extracted from a vast literature survey by using SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed search engines with relevant keywords. Upon literature survey, we found that the phytochemical 'arecoline' present in the areca nut is the main causative agent of OSMF condition. Currently, OSMF is treated by immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids, enzymes (hyaluronidase, chymotrypsin, and collagenase), anti-inflammatory mediators (isoxsuprine and pentoxifylline), dietary supplements (vitamins, antioxidants, and micronutrients), and anti-fibrotic cytokines like interferon-gamma that provides short-term symptomatic relief to OSMF patients. However, some plant leads have been proven effective in alleviating symptoms and mitigating OSMF, which ultimately improves the quality of OSMF patients' life. We concluded that plant drugs like lycopene, curcumin, Aloe vera, colchicine, and Glycyrrhiza glabra are effective against OSMF in various in vitro and/or clinical studies and are being used by modern and traditional practitioners.