COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF PROPOLIS, ROYAL JELLY, AND PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPIES ON ORAL MUCOSITIS INDUCED BY 5-FLUOROURACIL

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and histopathological effects of propolis and royal jelly compared to photobiomodulation therapies on an animal model of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced oral mucositis (OM). Study Design: In vivo, controlled and blinded experiments were performed. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups (n = 18): negative control (no treatment), photobiomodulation therapy, propolis gel, and royal jelly. On days 0 and 2, animals received an intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU. On days 3 and 4, the buccal mucosa was scratched. Therapy was initiated on day 5. Six animals were euthanized on days 8, 10, and 14. Clinical analysis was performed using photography, and histopathological evaluation was based on re-epithelization and inflammation scores. Results: On days 8 and 10, animals of photobiomodulation, propolis gel, and royal jelly groups showed improvement of OM compared to the control group (P