Sanguinaria oral care safety
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Sanguinaria extract in oral hygiene products "may not be safe or even desirable to use," Boston University Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Professor Sadru Kabani states in July 21 comments to FDA regarding advance notice of proposed rulemaking on OTC antigingivitis/antiplaque products. Kabani bases comments on observations made clinically and microscopically since 1995, including experience with 15-20 patients who have developed oral leukoplakia and notes, "current research suggests that sanguinaria may have a possible role in the pathogenesis of these oral changes." Research on the ingredient up to the end of 1998 on which FDA based its recommendations "appeared in non-peer reviewed journals based on studies for a short duration of time," Kabani adds. Sanguinaria was included as Category I for safety in the ANPR released in May (1"The Rose Sheet" June 2, 2003, p. 3)...