Effects of Propolis and Persica Mouthwashes on Minor Aphthous Ulcers: A Comparative Study

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) is a common disease of the nonkeratinized oral mucosa characterized by painful ulcerations and inflammation, causing difficulty in eating, swallowing, and speaking. Symptomatic treatment is considered for this disease due to the ambiguity of the exact etiology. The beneficial therapeutic effects of Persica and Propolis mouthwashes led us to the objective of studying therapeutic potentials of these herbal mouthwashes.

The present double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with minor aphthous ulcers and no systemic disease, who were divided into two groups of 20 via random allocation (systematic random sampling). Each group received 15 drops of propolis or persica mouthwashes three times a day for 10 days. Pain intensity was recorded by measuring the score of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the diameter of minor aphthous lesions (in mm) at three periods of before treatment, and on the second and sixth days after treatment. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test.

There was no significant difference between pain intensity and ulcer size before treatment and on the second day of treatment. The pain intensity on day 6 was significantly lower in Persica group (P=0.045) but no difference was observed in the mean ulcer size on day 6 between the two groups (P=0.104). The rate of pain relief (P=0.031) and reduction of ulcer size (P=0.046) were significantly higher in Persica group.

Propolis and Persica mouthwashes both reduce pain intensity and ulcer size in minor aphthous ulcers, and Persica showed a stronger potential to achieve these goals compared to propolis.