Efficacy of contemporary and novel intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis

Abstract

Objectives. To compare the antibacterial activity of propolis (30% in methyl cellulose), curcumin (2.5mg/mL of methyl cellulose), 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX), 2% metronidazole gel (MZ) and a mixture of 2% CHX and 2% MZ against Enterococcus faecalis in vitro. Calcium hydroxide served as the control. Study design. The inhibitory effect of the medicaments on E. Faecalis was determined by the agar diffusion test and tube dilution test.The rate of bactericidal activity was evaluated by the time-kill assay. Zones of inhibition data and time to kill data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test (P=0.05). Results. CHX demonstrated the highest mean zone of inhibition (34 ± 3mm) which was not significantly different (P>0.05) from curcumin (33 ± 2mm) and MZ (30 ± 2mm). Calcium hydroxide showed only contact inhibition. The time kill assay showed a time dependent action of each medicament. Conclusions. All tested agents except calcium hydroxide demonstrated significant reduction of viable bacteria at the time periods. The intracanal medicaments tested brought about a time dependent antibacterial effect on E.faecalis.