Therapeutic Evaluation of 5% Topical Amlexanox Paste and 2% Curcumin Oral Gel in the Management of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis- A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) minor is a painful oral condition that is characterized by shallow ulcers with an erythematous halo. These ulcers cause difficulty in mastication and speech and have a high recurrence rate. Objective: The present study aims to compare the size of the ulcer, erythema, pain score, and recurrence rates in patients using 5% topical amlexanox and 2% curcumin oral paste in the management of RAS minor. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted among 48 participants who were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A comprised participants who were given 5% topical amlexanox paste and Group B comprised participants who were given 2% curcumin oral gel for application. The participants were evaluated on days 1, 4, and 7 for the size of ulcers, erythema level, and pain score. They were reviewed on days 30, 60, 90, and 180 and recurrence episodes were documented. Results: There was a significant reduction in erythema (0.041) and pain scores (0.012) in Group B participants who used curcumin. The size of the ulcer had reduced in both the groups though there was no significance. Recurrence rates were high in participants who used amlexanox (92%) and were comparatively low in the curcumin using group (50%). Conclusions: Curcumin is a potent, safe substitute in the management of RAS minor for its effectiveness in reducing erythema, pain, and recurrence rates. Further studies should be conducted for evaluating the efficacy of curcumin in various clinical types of RAS.