title: Effect of topical chamomile on immunohistochemical levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in hamsters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of topical chamomile and corticosteroid treatment on the profile of tissue cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) in 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in hamsters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six hamsters were randomly separated into three groups (12 animals each): Group I--without treatment (control); Group II-treatment with chamomile (Ad-Muc(®)); and Group III--treatment with corticosteroid (betamethasone elixir- Celestone(®)). The animals received an intraperitoneal injection of 5--fluorouracil on Days 0 and 2. On Days 3 and 4, the buccal mucosa was scratched and therapy was initiated on Day 5. Three animals from each group were killed on Days 0, 5, 10, and 14 and the buccal mucosa was removed. The streptavidin-biotin complex method was used to delineate the in situ distribution, localization, and semiquantitative analysis of IL-1β and TNF-α. Data from the semiquantitative analysis of immunohistochemical staining were comparatively analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution and localization of IL-1β and TNF-α immunolabeling were similar. These proteins exhibited a diffuse pattern distributed throughout the connective tissue. The epithelium and adipose tissue were negative for both proteins. The semiquantitative analysis revealed that immunolabeling of IL-1β and TNF-α increased in all groups with the development of mucositis. On Day 10 (period of peak mucositis), the group treated with chamomile had lower scores for both pro-inflammatory cytokines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with topical chamomile reduced the tissue levels of IL-1β and TNF-α, thereby demonstrating anti-inflammatory action in oral mucositis in hamsters.
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. marinacurra@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curra
authors.forename: Marco Antonio T
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Isabel S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lauxen
authors.forename: Ana Carolina A
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pellicioli
authors.forename: Manoel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sant'Ana Filho
authors.forename: Vanessa Christina S
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.forename: Vinicius C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Carrard
authors.forename: Manoela D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000633:toxicity*; D020843:Chamomile; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000633:toxicity*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005472:Fluorouracil