Vernonia Conferta oral gel for wound healing after simple tooth extraction: Formulation and in vivo evaluation

Tooth extraction can lead to complications such as bleeding and persistent pain, despite advances in dentistry. Conventional treatments are not always sufficient. Vernonia conferta Benth, a plant traditionally used for bacterial infections and skin conditions, possesses antimicrobial, hemostatic, and wound healing properties. This study aimed to formulate a healing gel based on an aqueous extract of its bark and evaluate its in vivo efficacy on wounds after simple tooth extraction. The oral gel was formulated according to the method described by Nokam et al. A pilot study on 30 volunteer patients who underwent simple tooth extraction compared the gel's efficacy to standard antibiotic treatment. The 2% gel formulation had satisfactory physicochemical characteristics: dark brown color, pH 5.6 (compatible with saliva), soft consistency, mint odor, and slightly bitter taste. The results showed a more pronounced pain reduction with the gel. On day 2, 40% of patients in the gel group still felt pain, disappearing on day 3, compared to 66.70% for the antibiotic group. Regarding healing, the gel group showed a faster onset of healing. On day 3, 66.67% of patients in the gel group showed a reddish discoloration of the wound, a sign of granulation, compared to 26.67% in the other group. The beginning of closure of the extraction site was observed in 60% of patients in the gel group on day 3, while the antibiotic group reached this stage on day 7. At day 14, 66.70% of patients in the gel group were completely healed, compared to 40% in the other group. In conclusion, the oral gel based on aqueous extract of Vernonia conferta Benth bark was relatively more effective for the healing of wounds following simple tooth extraction, offering a promising solution in dentistry.