Litsea, a genus of plants in the Lauraceae family, is used in traditional medicine across parts of Asia for various ailments, including oral conditions. The use of Litsea species (such as Litsea cubeba) for canker sores (aphthous ulcers) is primarily based on traditional practices rather than robust scientific evidence. In ethnobotanical records, certain communities have applied Litsea leaves or extracts topically or as mouthwashes for their purported antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, which are believed to soothe mouth ulcers. Phytochemical studies show that Litsea species contain essential oils, flavonoids, and other compounds with potential biological activity, but direct clinical studies on their effectiveness for canker sores are lacking.

No randomized controlled trials or high-quality clinical studies specifically evaluate Litsea preparations for aphthous ulcers. Most evidence comes from anecdotal use and traditional herbal medicine texts. Some in vitro studies indicate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions, but these do not directly translate to proven benefit in canker sore management. Therefore, while Litsea is used traditionally for mouth sores in some cultures, scientific validation is minimal, and the strength of evidence remains low.