Effect of chamomile on chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in pediatric leukemia patients: A randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 ​Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Phytopharmaceutical Technology and Traditional Medicine Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Hematology Research Center, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

5 Department of Persian Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is one of the main side effects of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment. In this trial, we evaluated the efficacy of chamomile in management of neutropenia.  
Materials and Methods: This randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out in 2-18-year-old children with ALL. Participants in each group daily received 2.5 ml of either chamomile syrup or placebo syrup for a period of 30 days. Participants’ white blood cell (WBC), and absolute neutrophil count (ANC), as well as their quality of life were evaluated. 
Results: The study was completed with a total of 40 patients.  An increasing trend of ANC was observed in the treatment group despite the decreasing trend in placebo group, which was statistically significant between the two groups (P Interaction=0.019, 95% confidence intervals=15.076–171.324). No serious side effects were reported.
Conclusion: Using chamomile syrup as a complementary therapy in children with leukemia could improve their immunity (as it increased WBC) by minimizing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume 10, Issue 1
January and February 2020
Pages 58-69

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