ADVANCES IN HERBAL LOZENGES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RECURRENT APHTHOUS STOMATITIS (RAS).

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral mucosal disorder characterized by painful, recurrent ulcerations that significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, the exact etiology of RAS remains multifactorial, involving immunological, genetic, nutritional, and microbial factors. Conventional treatment strategies, including topical corticosteroids, antiseptics, and analgesics, primarily provide symptomatic relief but are often associated with side effects and frequent recurrence. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in alternative therapeutic approaches with improved safety and efficacy profiles. Herbal medicine has emerged as a promising option due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound healing properties. In this context, lozenges represent an effective drug delivery system that allows prolonged retention of active constituents in the oral cavity, ensuring localized action and enhanced patient compliance. Herbal lozenges formulated using medicinal plants such as Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, Aloe vera, and Syzygium aromaticum have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in the management of oral ulcers. This review comprehensively summarizes the current advancements in herbal lozenges for the treatment of RAS, including their formulation aspects, mechanisms of action, evaluation parameters, and recent research findings. Additionally, the advantages, limitations, and future perspectives of herbal lozenge based therapy are critically discussed. The findings suggest that herbal lozenges offer a safe, effective, and patient-friendly alternative to conventional therapies; however, further standardization and clinical validation are required to establish their widespread clinical application.