Protective effect of bilberry extract as a pretreatment on induced oral mucositis in hamsters

Objective. This study evaluated the effect of standardized bilberry extract containing anthocyanosides on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in hamsters. Study Design. Twenty-four hamsters were randomly chosen and assigned to groups. Groups A and B were pretreated with deionized water, whereas group C was pretreated with bilberry extract daily for 7 days. Groups B and C underwent chemotherapy by intraperitoneal injections of 5-fluorouracil (days 4, 9, and 14); group A received normal saline. Potentiation of oral mucositis was achieved by scratching both cheek pouches of all animals with needles (days 5, 6, and 14). The pouches were histopathologically examined on day 17 after visual examination and blood sampling by cardiac puncture. Results. The bilberry extract group showed significantly lower oral mucositis clinical and histopathologic scores (P < .05) and less percentile of mean daily weight reductions compared with animals receiving vehicle. Conclusions. Frequent administration of bilberry extract had a protective effect on oral mucosal damage induced by 5-fluorouracil in an animal model.