title: Antibiofilm and antibacterial activities of farnesol and xylitol as potential endodontic irrigants.
abstract: This study investigated the antibiofilm and antibacterial effects of farnesol and xylitol in a series of experiments in order to evaluate their potential use as root canal irrigants. The following substances were tested: 0.2% farnesol; 5% and 20% xylitol; 0.2% farnesol plus 20% xylitol; and saline (control). For comparison with an established endodontic irrigant, 2.5% NaOCl was included in each test. Three experiments were conducted: the crystal violet assay, to evaluate the effects on the biofilm biomass; the dentin disinfection test, to evaluate the effects on bacterial viability in biofilms; and the root canal disinfection test, to simulate the use in the root canal environment. Farnesol was the most effective substance in reducing the biofilm biomass, followed by 20% xylitol. All substances affected bacterial viability in biofilms; farnesol showed the best results followed by the farnesol/xylitol combination. Irrigation with all substances significantly reduced the bacterial load (p<0.001), but only the farnesol/xylitol combination was significantly more effective than saline (p=0.02). NaOCl was more effective than any other substance tested in the three experiments (p<0.001). The findings demonstrated that farnesol affected both the biofilm biomass and the viability of cells in the biofilm, while 20% xylitol affected only the biofilm biomass. Although not more effective than NaOCl, the combination of these two antibiofilm substances has potential to be used in endodontics in certain situations.
authors: Department of Endodontics and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Dental School, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. flavioferreiraalves@gmail.com
authors: Flávio R F
authors: FR
authors: Alves
authors: Mônica A S
authors: MA
authors: Neves
authors: Marlei G
authors: MG
authors: Silva
authors: Isabela N
authors: IN
authors: Rôças
authors: José F
authors: JF
authors: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D018533:Biomass; D004396:Coloring Agents; D019551:Dental Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005840:Gentian Violet; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D014993:Xylitol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004396:Coloring Agents; D019551:Dental Disinfectants; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D005204:Farnesol; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D005840:Gentian Violet; D014993:Xylitol