Effect of St. John's Wort in the Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Overview

The aim of the treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) is to accelerate the healing of ulcers by reducing pain and inflammation, thus enabling patients to perform their oral functions comfortably. It has been said many times in the literature that St. John's wort is very effective in wound healing.In this study, the evaluation of the therapeutic effects of St. John's wort extract on the clinical symptoms and ulcer healing rate in patients with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS), a condition with no definitive treatment, was aimed.

he etiology of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) remains incompletely understood. Various therapeutic approaches, including topical and systemic agents, have been employed to alleviate pain, reduce ulcer dimensions, and prolong disease-free intervals. First-line management of RAS typically involves topical pharmacological agents. Among these, triamcinolone acetonide (TA), a corticosteroid derivative, is extensively utilized in the treatment of moderate-to-severe RAS due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Hyaluronic acid (HA) gel, a more recent therapeutic option, has been demonstrated to effectively mitigate pain associated with RAS without inducing systemic or local adverse effects. Furthermore, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) has gained significant attention in the scientific community owing to its pharmacological properties, including antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies evaluating the topical application of Hypericum perforatum extract in wound healing have indicated that it significantly enhances tissue repair and regeneration. This study aims to compare the efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide, hyaluronic acid gel, and Hypericum perforatum extract in pain management and ulcer size reduction in patients with RAS.