title: Does scientific evidence for the use of natural products in the treatment of oral candidiasis exist? A systematic review.
abstract: In view of the limitations of antifungal agents used in the treatment of oral candidiasis and the wide variety of natural products that have been studied as treatment of this disease, this systematic literature review proposed to evaluate whether scientific evidence attesting to the efficacy of natural products in the treatment of this disease exists. A systematic search in PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, Lilacs, and Cochrane Library databases was accomplished using the associations among the keywords Candida albicans, phytotherapy, biological products, denture stomatitis, and oral candidiasis in both English and Portuguese. Four independent observers evaluated the methodological quality of the resulting articles. Three studies were included for detailed analysis and evaluated according to the analysis protocol based on the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 statement. The tested products were different in all studies. Two studies mentioned random samples, but no study described the sample allocation. No study mentioned sample calculations, a prior pilot study, or examiner calibration, and only one trial reported sample losses. Differences between the tested products and the methodological designs among these studies did not allow the existence of scientific evidence related to the effectiveness of these products for the proposed subjects to be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Lacet Silva
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luíza Alves de Lima
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil ; Human Immunology Research and Education Group (GEPIH), Escola Técnica de Saúde da UFPB, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ítalo Martins
authors.initials: ÍM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mayara Abreu
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Dias
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hugo Lemes
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Carlo
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edeltrudes de Oliveira
authors.initials: Ede O
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil ; Human Immunology Research and Education Group (GEPIH), Escola Técnica de Saúde da UFPB, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcio Roberto
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Castellano