A ten-year 2012–2022 retrospective study prevention and treatment of oral mucositis with green propolis mucoadhesive gel

Oral mucositis is a comorbidity caused by radiotherapy in the head and neck region in cancer patients [ 1 ] [ 2 ]. Brazilian green propolis has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, healing and immunostimulating properties. Retrospective study to evaluate the clinical use of propolis mucoadherent gel ([ Fig. 1 ]) in the prevention and treatment of oral mucositisInformation was collected from the clinical records of patients seen at the UFMG Faculty of Dentistry Clinic between March 2012 and March 2022. The study was approved by COEP/UFMG (CAAE-0432812.1.0000.5149). MucoadhesiveGel (PharmaNéctar ®​ ) was indicated for application to the entire oral mucosa 3 times a day (8/8h) [ 3 ] [ 4 ]. Patients who had no tolerance to propolis were treated with benzydamine hydrochloride or laser therapy. Descriptive analysis was carried out using absolute and percentage frequencies. Patients (n=476) were treated, including men (n=343/71.6%) and women (n=133/28.4%), Caucasians (n=123/25.84%), feodermas (n=164/34.41%), melanoderms (n=154/32.35%) and 35 (7.35%) records without this information. The average age was 56 years (±14 years). Alcoholic patients (n=327), smokers (n=336) and the most prevalent type of tumor was Squamous Cell Carcinoma (n=240). OncOralCare ®​ gel prevent mucositis (n=298 /32.1%) or developed Grade 1 mucositis (n=51/10.7%) and Grade 2 (n=36/7.5%). Treatment of Grade 3 (n=25/19.0%) or Grade 4 (n=19/14.5%) ([ Fig. 2 ]) were controlled within 15 days in 90% of cases ([ Fig. 3 ]). Propolis gel controlled oral mucositis and candidosis. A multicenter, double-blind study will be necessary to confirm these findings. Fig. 1 A -Propolis mucoadhesive gel Fig. 2 Grade 4 oral mucositis Fig. 3 15 days after treatment with green propolis mucoadhesive gel. Photo: Caldeira, P.C.; Santos, V.R. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany