title: Herbal medicines and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): A critical literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy [CIPN] is a common significant and debilitating side-effect resulting from the administration of neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. These pharmaco-chemotherapeutics can include taxanes, vinca alkaloids, platinum analogues, and others. Moderate to severe CIPN significantly decreases the quality of life and physical abilities of cancer patients and current pharmacotherapy for CIPN e.g. Amifostine, and antidepressants have had limited efficacy and may themselves induce adverse side-effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the potential use of herbal medicines as adjuvants in cancer treatments, a critical literature review was conducted by electronic and manual search on nine databases. These include PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and two Chinese databases CNKI and CINAHL. Thirty-four studies were selected from 5614 studies assessed and comprising animal studies, case reports, retrospective studies, and minimal randomized clinical trials investigating the anti-CIPN effect of herbal medicines as the adjuvant intervention in patients administered chemotherapy. The thirty-four studies were assessed on methodological quality and limitations identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies were mixed in their recommendations for herbal medicines as an adjuvant treatment for CIPN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently no agent has shown solid beneficial evidence to be recommended for the treatment or prophylaxis of CIPN. Given that the number of cancer survivors is increasing, the long-term side effects of cancer treatment, is of major importance.
authors: a The University of Queensland, The School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital , Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba , Australia.
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Schloss
authors: b Medical Oncology Group of Australia, Queensland Clinical Oncology Group , Chermside , Australia.
authors: Maree
authors: M
authors: Colosimo
authors: c The University of Sydney, The School of Medicine , Sydney Australia.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Vitetta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy; herbal medicines; herbs; peripheral neuropathy