Irritable bowel syndrome: mebeverine or peppermint oil? An evidence-based critical review

• Autor(a) principal: Cescatto Goncalves, Camila
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Mulinari de Lacerda Pessoa, Fabrício, Francine Franco Mancarz, Graziele, Gonçalves, Camila Cescatto, Pessoa, Fabrício Mulinari de Lacerda, Mancarz, Graziele Francine Franco, Cavassin, Francelise Bridi
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Fitos
• Texto Completo: https://revistafitos.far.fiocruz.br/index.php/revista-fitos/article/view/1090
• topic: Enteropathy; Phytotherapy; Antispasmodics; Symptoms relief; Enteropatia; Fitoterapia; Antiespasmódicos; Alívio dos sintomas

This study aimed to collect and analyze scientific evidence-based on the effectiveness of two therapeutic approaches available for symptom relief in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), mebeverine hydrochloride and peppermint oil (Mentha x piperita L.). A systematic critical review was carried out using the MEDLINE, CENTRAL and LILACS databases. Eleven articles referring to randomized controlled trials covered the eligibility criteria. The findings suggest low evidence of mebeverine in controlling intestinal symptoms, with attention to the only one study concerned with reporting the occurrence of adverse effects. Peppermint oil, on the other hand, proved to be effective and well tolerated for reducing the condition. Quality of life scales also obtained positive results with phytotherapy. The search for adverse effects during treatment was attend to practically all trials. In summary, the evidence points positively to the use of herbal medicine in the relief of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, however mebeverine remains commercialized at a high cost and needs studies that demonstrate its effectiveness. It reinforces the need for investigations with reasonable quality methods capable of assisting good therapeutic choices in clinical practice.