title: A laboratory evaluation of the antibacterial and cytotoxic effect of Liquorice when used as root canal medicament.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of Liquorice as a root canal medicament and to compare its action to the commonly used root canal medicament calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)(2).
  
  
  METHODS
  The antibacterial effect of Liquorice and Ca(OH)(2) either separately or in combination was investigated against Enterococcus faecalis. Agar-well diffusion methods, broth microdilution tests and biofilm susceptibility assays were used to determine the antibacterial activity. Human periodontal ligament fibroblast tissue culture was used to assess the cytotoxicity of the preparations under investigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liquorice extract either by itself or in combination with Ca(OH)(2) had a significant inhibitory effect against Enterococcus faecalis compared with that of Ca(OH)(2) alone. The use of Liquorice extract followed by Liquorice/Ca(OH)(2) mixture retained significantly more viable periodontal ligament cells than Ca(OH)(2) , which had a strong lethal effect on the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liquorice extract either separately or as Liquorice/Ca(OH)(2) mixture had a potent bactericidal effect against Enterococcus faecalis and retained compatibility with fibroblasts in tissue culture compared to the commonly used root canal medicament Ca(OH)(2).
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Badr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Badria
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide