title: Effects of berberine gelatin on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in a Chinese cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral mucosal disease, yet effective therapeutic approaches are lacking. This study aimed to determine the effects of application of berberine gelatin in the treatment of minor RAS (MiRAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was performed. The gelatin containing berberine (5 mg/g) or vehicle only was applied 4 times per day for 5 days. Clinical evaluation included pain level, size, erythema, and exudation of certain ulcers on days 1, 2, 4, and 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 84 subjects fulfilled the study without obvious side effects. Berberine gelatin treatment reduced the ulcer pain score compared with placebo gelatin (P < 0.05). Ulcer size was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) and lower erythema (P < 0.05) and exudation (P < 0.05) levels were associated with berberine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine gelatin may be a safe and effective treatment for MiRAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou 423000, Hunan, China. jxw0927@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Fen-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001599:Berberine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D012008:Recurrence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D001599:Berberine; D005780:Gelatin