A Review: Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Gel for the Treatment of Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are painful breaks in the oral mucosa, most commonly triggered by minor trauma or recurrent aphthous stomatitis. This review discusses their underlying causes and highlights the therapeutic role of gel formulations, with a focus on herbal alternatives. Plant-based medicines are increasingly preferred because they generally cause fewer adverse reactions, are economical, widely available, and fit well within cultural healthcare practices. Herbal remedies make use of bioactive plant constituents with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties—key factors in the recovery of oral lesions. In this work, we summarize several herbs studied for managing mouth ulcers, including guava, aloe vera, neem, turmeric, tulsi, licorice, giloy stem, and betel leaf, all of which have demonstrated beneficial effects. Commercially available preparations, such as Smyle Gel and Tuliq Gel, illustrate how plant extracts can be combined to provide localized relief with minimal irritation to oral tissues. With the rising interest in natural therapies, herbal gels represent a promising alternative to conventional treatments. The main objective of this review is to explore the formulation of a guava-based herbal gel and its evaluation parameters for potential clinical application.