Lycopene in management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic, insidious,precancerous condition that occurs predominantly among Indians.The hallmark of the disease is submucosal fibrosis that affects the oral cavity and progressively involves pharynx and upper esophagus.There is substantial evidence for areca nut carcinogenecity in mouth and esophageal cancer.OSMF is a condition with oxidative stress. Arecanut ingredients induce excessive reactive oxygen species which damages the cell structures, including lipids and membranes, proteins and nucleic acids.Cessation of the chewing habits should be the focused on treatment modality. If this is successfully implemented, early lesions have a good prognosis.Strengthening the antioxidant system that stabilize and deactivate the free radicals before they attack the cells improves the signs and symptoms of OSMF.One such type of antioxidant is Lycopene. It is a phytochemical, synthesized by plants (tomatoes), powerful antioxidant and has a singlet-oxygen-quenching ability. It is a potent anticarcinogenic and has proven beneficial effect in precancerous condition like OSMF.So,this literature is planned to review the efficacy of lycopene in the management of OSMF.