Spirulina-Based Herbal Oral Rinse: A Natural Approach to Mucosal Wound Healing

Abstract

This project focuses on the development of a Spirulina-based herbal oral rinse formulated to promote the healing of oral mucosal wounds, including ulcers, traumatic lesions, post-dental surgery injuries, and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. The oral rinse utilizes Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), a nutrient-rich microalga known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative properties, as the primary active ingredient. To enhance its therapeutic potential, the first formulation incorporates herbal extracts such as Amla juice, Clove, Hibiscus and the second formulation incorporates herbal extracts such as Amla juice, Tulsi, Charcoal, all well-documented for their antibacterial, soothing, and healing capabilities. The resulting rinse is pH-balanced, and biocompatible, making it safe for regular use even in patients with sensitive oral tissues. In vitro evaluations have demonstrated the formulation’s ability to significantly reduce microbial load, alleviate inflammation, and accelerate epithelial regeneration. The plant-based bioactive offers a natural, non-toxic alternative to chemical-based mouthwashes, making it a promising solution for effective oral hygiene management and wound care. Its application can be extended to dental clinics, cancer care, and general oral health maintenance, supporting a shift toward green, sustainable therapeutics in biomedical care.

Introduction

Oral mucosal wounds (ulcers, trauma, mucositis) are difficult to manage due to pain, infection risk, and slow healing. Traditional mouthwashes with alcohol or antiseptics cause irritation, dryness, and burning. There is growing demand for natural, non-toxic, eco-friendly alternatives in oral care.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a blue-green algae rich in proteins, antioxidants (phycocyanin, β-carotene), vitamins, and minerals with proven anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties.

The addition of herbal ingredients such as:

• Amla – antioxidant and collagen stimulant

• Clove – antimicrobial and analgesic

• Tulsi – anti-inflammatory and soothing

• Hibiscus – polyphenol-rich for freshness

• Activated Charcoal – detoxifier
  further enhances the therapeutic potential of a natural mouthwash.

2. Literature Review Highlights

• Clinical trials show Spirulina improves inflammatory markers and symptoms in conditions like geographic tongue, oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), and oral lichen planus.

• Spirulina mouthwash demonstrates comparable efficacy to chlorhexidine in reducing plaque and gingivitis—without side effects (e.g., tooth staining).

• Reviews highlight Spirulina’s bioactive potential and emphasize the need for standardized trials, better delivery systems, and formulation optimization.

• Novel applications include lipid-based delivery, probiotic combinations, and marine bioproducts for mucosal healing and oral disease prevention.

3. Methodology

A. Spirulina Cultivation

• Grown in Zarrouk’s medium under optimal conditions (pH 9–10, 30–35°C) with light and aeration.

• Biomass harvested, washed, and dried naturally to retain bioactivity.

B. Mouthwash Formulation

Two formulations developed using cold processing for bioactivity preservation:

• Formulation I: Spirulina, Amla, Clove, Hibiscus, Distilled Water

• Formulation II: Spirulina, Amla, Tulsi, Activated Charcoal, Distilled Water

Both were pH-adjusted (6.5–7.2) for oral compatibility.

C. Physicochemical & Stability Testing

• Parameters: pH, viscosity, color, odor, sedimentation, phase separation

• Stability monitored for 6 months

• Sensory evaluation done with healthy volunteers

D. Packaging & Shelf-life

• Eco-friendly, airtight containers labeled and stored at 25 ± 2°C in light-protected conditions

4. Experimental Evaluation

• Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and biocompatibility tests performed.

• Both formulations showed no adverse changes over storage period and retained efficacy.

5. Results & Discussion

• Both formulations were physically stable, with pleasant appearance and aroma.

• Formulation I:

  • Better wound-healing and soothing effects

  • Due to Clove and Hibiscus synergy with Spirulina

• Formulation II:

  • Superior cleansing and freshness

  • Due to Activated Charcoal and Tulsi

Spirulina contributed significantly to:

• Tissue repair

• Collagen synthesis

• Inflammation reduction

Overall, both natural formulations effectively promoted oral health, managed ulcers, and offered a biocompatible, chemical-free alternative to commercial mouthwashes.

Conclusion

The developed herbal oral rinse formulations proved to be stable, effective, and safe for promoting oral health and healing oral ulcers. By incorporating natural ingredients such as Spirulina, Amla, Clove, Hibiscus, Tulsi, and Activated Charcoal, the formulations exhibited significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties while maintaining a suitable pH and pleasant sensory profile. The study concludes that these natural rinses offer a biocompatible and sustainable alternative to chemical-based mouthwashes, supporting daily oral hygiene and aiding in the management of oral mucosal conditions.

References

[1] N. N. El-Zalabany, A. M. Badr, O. G. Shaker, and A. A. Abdel-Azim, “Evaluation of therapeutic effect of spirulina in patients with geographic tongue: A randomized double blind controlled clinical trial,” Egypt. Dent. J., vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 1223–1232, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.21608/edj.2024.259856.2861. [2] R. Kulkarni, A. Kalaskar, R. Kalaskar, and N. Gupta, “Efficacy of Spirulina in Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis – A Systematic Review,” Journal of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, vol. 28, p. 8, 2022, doi: 10.1051/mbcb/2021052. [3] R. Kulkarni, A. Kalaskar, R. Kalaskar, and N. Gupta, “Efficacy of Spirulina in Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis – A Systematic Review,” Journal of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, vol. 28, p. 8, 2022, doi: 10.1051/mbcb/2021052. [4] M. Parvizi Fara, S. Kakoolaki, A. Asghari, I. Sharifpour, and R. Kazempoor, “Wound healing by functional compounds of Echinodermata, Spirulina and chitin products: A review,” Sustain. Aquac. Health Manag. J. (Iranian J. Aquat. Anim. Health), vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 23–38, May 2020, doi: 10.52547/ijaah.6.2.23. [5] B. S. Mulk, P. Deshpande, N. Velpula, V. Chappidi, R. L. Chintamaneni, S. Goyal et al., “Spirulina and pentoxifylline — a novel approach for treatment of oral submucous fibrosis,” J. Clin. Diagn. Res., vol. 7, Dec. 2013, pp. 3048–3050. [6] N. C. S. K. Chaitanya, D. Chikte, Y. P. Kumar et al., “Efficacy of Spirulina 500 mg vs Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% for the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” J. Contemp. Dent. Pract., vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 552–557, May 2022. [7] J. Ye, X. Wu, J. Liu, Y. Guo et al., “An effective oral drug delivery route for pharmacokinetic complications: Spirulina lipid nanotechnology system,” Adv. Sci. (Weinh.), online ahead of print, Sep. 12, 2025, Art. e09731, doi: 10.1002/advs.202509731. [8] B. W. Jester, H. Zhao, M. Gewe, T. Adame et al., “Development of spirulina for the manufacture and oral delivery of protein therapeutics,” Nat. Biotechnol., vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 956–964, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41587-022-01249-7. [9] X. Chen, H. Xie, and J. Guo, “Drug treatment for oral submucous fibrosis: an update,” BMC Oral Health, vol. 23, Art. no. 748, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03488-9. [10] S.-H. Lee, W.-H. Kim, K.-W. Ju, M.-S. Lee, H.-S. Kim, J.-H. Lee, Y.-J. Jung, and B.-J. Kim, “Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential of mouthwash composition based on natural extracts,” Appl. Sci., vol. 11, no. 9, Art. 4227, May 2021, doi: 10.3390/app11094227. [11] N. Jeddy, S. Ravi, T. Radhika, and L. J. Sai Lakshmi, “Comparison of the efficacy of herbal mouth rinse with commercially available mouth rinses: A clinical trial,” J. Oral Maxillofac. Pathol., vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 332–334, Sep.–Dec. 2018, doi: 10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_303_18. [12] S. Ahmad, S. Sinha, S. Ojha, H. Chadha, B. Aggarwal, Ajeet, S. M. Jain, and Meenu, “Formulation and evaluation of antibacterial herbal mouthwash against oral disorders,” Indo Glob. J. Pharm. Sci., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 37–40, 2018. [13] V. B. Savalia, “Herbal Product — A survey to know the impact on daily life,” in Proc. Int. Res. Conf. Innov., Startup & Invest. (ICOSTART 2022), Rajkot, India, Dec. 2022, pp. 87–97. [14] Y.-Z. Huang, Z. Jin, Z.-M. Wang, L. Qi, S. Song, B.-W. Zhu, and X.-P. Dong, “Marine bioactive compounds as nutraceutical and functional food ingredients for potential oral health,” Front. Nutr., vol. 8, Art. 686663, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.686663. [15] D. S. Manjili, B. Nowruzi, M. Ghane, “Formulation and antimicrobial activity of a probiotic mouth freshener with phycoerythrin, Artemisia aucheri and encapsulated Lactobacillus bifidus targeting Streptococcus mutans,” J. Oral Biol. Craniofac. Res., vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1508–1513, Nov.–Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.09.006. [16] A.-G. Niculescu and A. M. Grumezescu, “Natural compounds for preventing ear, nose, and throat-related oral infections,” Plants (Basel), vol. 10, no. 9, Art. 1847, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/plants10091847. [17] L. Vernès, P. Granvillain, F. Chemat, and M. Vian, “Phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis: production, extraction and analysis,” Curr. Biotechnol., vol. 4, pp. 481–491, 2015. [18] J.-F. Fabre, N. U. F. Niangoran, C. Gaignard, D. Buso, Z. Mouloungui, and R. Valentin, “Extraction, purification and stability of C-phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis,” Eur. Food Res. Technol., vol. 248, no. 6, pp. 1583–1599, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s00217-022-03987-z. [19] L. Usai, S. Torre, N. Aktay, N. T. Dunford, V. Citi, L. Flori, P. Nieri, and G. A. Lutzu, “Recent advancements in production and extraction methods of phycobiliprotein C-phycocyanin by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis: A mini review,” Curr. Microbiol., vol. 81, no. 12, Art. 428, Oct. 26, 2024, doi: 10.1007/s00284-024-03964-7. [20] R. Maniyar and U. G. K. M., \"effectiveness of spirulina mouthwash on reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis: a clinical study,\" Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci., vol. 9, no. 7, pp. 136–139, 2017.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ms. Priyavarthini S, Pavithra S, Priya Dharshini N, Raja E, Rajesh P. 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.