BACKGROUNDS Oral colonization and infections are frequently observed in patients during and soon after radiation therapy (RT). Infective mucositis is a common side effect associated with cancer therapy, characterized by an inflammation of the oral mucous membranes with histological mucosal and submucosal changes. Ulcerative mucositis is responsible for significant pain, impairing the patient's nutritional intake and leading to local or systemic infections promoting mycosis due to several species of the genus Candida. According to international guidelines, treatment of candidiasis depends on the infection site and patient's condition. SUMMARY Recently several studies have shown the protective role of natural compounds counteracting the activity of Candida biofilms. The aim of this review is to discuss the antimicrobial activities of natural compounds in fungal infections, especially Candida spp., during and soon after radiotherapy. Indeed new molecules are being discovered and assessed for their capacity to control Candida spp. growth and, probably in the future, will be used to treat oral candidiasis, overall, during radiotherapy. This review reports several preliminary data about preclinical and clinical evidence of their efficacy in the prevention and/or treatment of mucositis due to Radiotherapy with a brief description of the natural compounds with anti-Candida activities. KEY MESSAGES The increase in the resistance to the available antifungal drugs related to Candida spp. infections increased as well as drug interactions, urging the development of innovative and more effective agents with antifungal action. Recent preclinical and clinical studies are identifying natural substances with anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity that could be tested in the prevention of candidiasis in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

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评论文章标题：头颈放射治疗期间口腔念珠菌感染中具有抗菌活性的天然化合物。

背景在放射治疗（RT）期间和放射治疗后不久，患者经常观察到口腔定植和感染。感染性粘膜炎是与癌症治疗相关的常见副作用，其特征是口腔粘膜炎症以及粘膜和粘膜下组织学变化。溃疡性粘膜炎会造成严重疼痛，损害患者的营养摄入，并导致局部或全身感染，从而促进由念珠菌属的几种物种引起的真菌病。根据国际指南，念珠菌病的治疗取决于感染部位和患者的病情。摘要 最近的几项研究表明，天然化合物具有抵消念珠菌生物膜活性的保护作用。本综述的目的是讨论天然化合物在放疗期间和放疗后不久对真菌感染（尤其是念珠菌属）的抗菌活性。事实上，新分子正在被发现并评估其控制念珠菌属的能力。生长，并且可能在未来将用于治疗放疗期间的口腔念珠菌病。本综述报告了一些关于其在预防和/或治疗放射治疗引起的粘膜炎方面功效的临床前和临床证据的初步数据，并简要描述了具有抗念珠菌活性的天然化合物。关键信息 与念珠菌相关的现有抗真菌药物的耐药性增加。感染和药物相互作用增加，敦促开发具有抗真菌作用的创新且更有效的药物。最近的临床前和临床研究正在鉴定具有抗炎和抗真菌活性的天然物质，这些物质可以用于预防接受放射治疗的患者的念珠菌病。需要进一步的研究来证实这些初步数据。