How efficacious are Neem, Tulsi, Guduchi extracts and chlorhexidine as intracanal disinfectants? A comparative ex vivo study.

UNASSIGNED

In endodontics, despite careful instrumentation and antimicrobial irrigation, root canals still harbor cultivable microorganisms. Such cases require intra canal medicament that eliminates the microbial inhabitants from the canals. Recent trend advocates the use of herbal extracts due to easy availability, cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, and lack of microbial resistance. Hence, in the present study, Neem, Tulsi, and Guduchi extracts were used as intracanal medicaments.

UNASSIGNED

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of Neem, Tulsi, Guduchi extracts, and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis, when used as intracanal medicaments.

UNASSIGNED

One hundred and twenty-five extracted human teeth, inoculated with E. faecalis, were divided into four experimental groups and a control group (n = 25 in each group). The experimental groups were treated with chlorhexidine, Neem, Tulsi, and Guduchi extracts and their antibacterial property was evaluated by estimating microbial counting (CFU/ml).

UNASSIGNED

The reduction in bacterial count for chlorhexidine, Neem, Tulsi, and Guduchi groups was 60.76%, 51.98%, 37.73%, and 34.93%, respectively. Statistically significant difference in reduction of bacterial count was observed in all the groups, when compared with the control group.

UNASSIGNED

Among all the herbal extracts, Neem was found to be the most potent medicament followed by Tulsi and Guduchi. However, chlorhexidine was found to be at epic.