Review on Hydrogel-Based Herbal Oral Ulcer Patches

Abstract

ral ulcers are a common and painful condition affecting the mucosal lining of the oral cavity. They can result from a variety of causes, including mechanical trauma, nutritional deficiencies, infections, or underlying systemic diseases. Conventional treatments, such as corticosteroids and antiseptics, often provide temporary relief but are associated with side effects and limited patient compliance. In recent years, there has been growing interest in herbal therapies due to their natural origin, safety profile, and multifunctional therapeutic actions. Herbal ingredients such as aloe vera, licorice, gotu kola, and honey possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, making them ideal candidates for oral ulcer management. The development of herbal oral ulcer patches offers a promising approach by enabling localized, sustained delivery of active phytoconstituents directly to the ulcer site. These patches not only provide therapeutic benefits but also protect the affected area from mechanical irritation and secondary infection. This review aims to explore various herbal ingredients commonly used for oral ulcers, discuss formulation strategies for herbal patches, and highlight key evaluation parameters such as mucoadhesive strength, drug release, and stability. By compiling current findings and advancements, this paper emphasizes the potential of herbal oral patches as an effective, patient-friendly alternative in the management of oral ulcers.

Introduction

I. Introduction

• Oral ulcers (aphthous ulcers) are painful lesions in the mouth, affecting daily functions like eating and speaking.

• Causes range from mechanical trauma to systemic diseases and nutritional deficiencies.

• Traditional treatments (e.g., corticosteroids, anesthetics) provide short-term relief but may cause side effects and do not always promote complete healing.

• Herbal remedies offer safer, biocompatible alternatives with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties.

• Herbal oral patches are emerging as effective localized delivery systems, offering prolonged drug release, reduced dosing, and mucosal protection.

II. Pathophysiology and Types of Oral Ulcers

• Ulcers form due to epithelial damage, immune activation, and possible infection.

• Causes include trauma, infections, chemicals, deficiencies, or systemic illness (e.g., Crohn’s, Behcet’s).

• Types of ulcers:

  • Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (minor, major, herpetiform)

  • Traumatic, infectious, and systemic-related ulcers

• Healing involves inflammation, fibroblast activity, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling.

III. Herbal Remedies Used in Oral Ulcer Treatment

• These herbs, when used in oral patches, enhance local retention and minimize systemic exposure.

IV. Formulation of Herbal Oral Ulcer Patches

• Polymers used:

  • HPMC, PVA, chitosan, sodium alginate – for adhesion, flexibility, and drug release

• Methods of incorporating herbs:

  • Infusion, decoction, gel incorporation

• Patch types:

  • Mucoadhesive (long-acting), fast-dissolving (rapid relief), bilayer (unidirectional release)

• Fabrication: Typically via solvent casting; other methods include lyophilization and electrospinning

V. Evaluation Parameters

1. Physicochemical – Thickness, pH (6.5–7.0), mechanical strength

2. Mucoadhesive strength & swelling index – Determines adhesion and hydration

3. In vitro release & permeation – Assesses how actives are released and absorbed

4. Stability testing – Checks formulation under varied storage conditions

5. Microbial safety & cytotoxicity – Ensures product safety and biocompatibility

VI. Advantages and Limitations

Advantages:

• Targeted delivery

• Prolonged retention

• Non-invasive

• Fewer side effects

• Suitable for natural/holistic medicine users

Limitations:

• Variability in herbal extract composition

• Difficulty in standardization and quality control

• Challenges with patch stability and solubility in moist environments

VII. Future Prospects and Challenges

• Focus on standardization of herbal ingredients using tools like HPTLC and LC-MS

• Need for clinical validation through human trials

• Evolution of regulatory guidelines for herbal delivery systems

• With proper R&D and supportive policies, herbal oral patches could become a mainstream therapeutic option in oral healthcare.

Conclusion

Herbal oral ulcer patches represent a promising and patient-friendly approach to managing oral mucosal lesions. By combining the benefits of natural healing agents with innovative drug delivery systems, these patches address many limitations of conventional therapies. Continued research into standardization, formulation techniques, and clinical validation will pave the way for their broader application and commercialization in oral healthcare.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ankita Thikekar, Nitin Gawai, Nidhi Jawalkar, Sanskruti Deokar, Rutuja Dhaigude. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.