Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Wound Healing Effect of Kaempferia galanga L. Rhizome on the Chemical-Induced Oral Mucosal Ulcer in Wistar Rats

INTRODUCTION: Kaempferia galanga L. (K. galanga; local name kencur, Zingiberaceae) is a plant commonly used as a kitchen spice, and empirically it is often used for medicinal purposes. This plant has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory role, but no research has been found on its effect on oral mucosal ulcer. This study aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity and wound healing effect of the ethanol extract of K. galanga L. rhizome (EEKG) on the chemical-induced oral mucosal ulcer in Wistar rats. METHODS: In this study, 35 rats were divided into 7 groups (normal, negative, triamcinolone acetonide, and 4 EEKG groups). Acetic acid 70% was used as the oral mucosal ulcer inducer. Parameters observed were macroscopic and microscopic histopathological examinations. RESULTS: The results revealed that dose of 0.5% of the EEKG was effective in increasing the percent recovery of ulcer area and inflammation sign scores. Meanwhile, doses of 0.5–2% of EEKG were effective in reducing the histopathological score. Interestingly, topical EEKG in our study was more effective compared with triamcinolone acetonide (the conventional therapy for oral mucosal ulceration). DISCUSSION: The EEKG has been confirmed its anti-inflammatory activity by accelerating the healing process on the chemical-induced oral mucosal ulcer in Wistar rats, based on the percent recovery of the ulcer area, the percent recovery of the inflammation sign score, and the histopathology score. CONCLUSION: Taken together, K. galanga L. is very potential to be developed as a prospective phytopharmaceutical for the treatment of oral mucosal ulceration in human after clinical trials.