Clinical efficacy of a buccoadhesive paste from Fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: in-vitro assessment of non-toxic concentration and pilot trial

Abstract

Context

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a highly prevalent oral lesion that is limited in many cases to symptomatic remedies.

Objective

In this work, a buccoadhesive paste was prepared from Fenugreek extract (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) and clinically evaluated on RAS patients.

Design

This study was a double blind randomized clinical trial.

Setting

The study took place at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry.

Participants

SCytotoxicity of fenugreek extract was studied on five cell lines using MTT and Neutral red assay. A buccoadhesive paste was formulated at non-toxic concentration. ixty patients randomly in two groups were treated with fenugreek buccoadhesive paste (FBP) and dexamethasone mouthwash respectively. The patients were followed for the intensity of pain, size of the lesion, erythema and exudate severity on 0, 4, 6, 10 days after the treatment.

Results

From the fourth day of the treatment, the size of the lesion and severity of pain was significantly improved in patients treated with FBP. On the sixth day of the intervention, the erythema level and the size of the ulcer significantly decreased (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

FBP could improve the most symptoms of RAS in comparison to the control due to the good adhesion of the paste to the surface of the ulcer and release the extract and forms a protective barrier against more mechanical irritations or infections.