title: Time-dependent antibacterial effects of Aloe vera and Zataria multiflora plant essential oils compared to calcium hydroxide in teeth infected with Enterococcus faecalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present in vitro study, we investigated the time-related antimicrobial efficacy of Aloe vera and Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) plant essential oils compared to calcium hydroxide ([Ca[OH]2 ) to eliminate Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) from root canals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new strain of E. faecalis (Enterococcus spp. AGH04) was isolated from a previously root-filled tooth with persistent apical periodontitis. The 16S rRNA sequence was analyzed and deposited in GeneBank under accession number KF465681. A total of 108 extracted human single-rooted teeth were contaminated with this bacterial strain and treated with Aloe vera essential oil, Z. multiflora essential oil, and Ca(OH)2 for 1, 7, and 14 days. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the chemical composition of the oils. The percentage reduction from initial c.f.u./mL counts were calculated and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carvacrol, thymol, and linalool were the main constituents of both essential oils. The c.f.u./mL count reductions significantly increased for all three medicaments when the contact time was extended. A statistically-significant difference was observed between the medicaments after 1 and 7 days, but there was no significant difference after 14 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both medicinal herbs showed equal antimicrobial efficiency against E. faecalis, comparable to Ca(OH)2 for the prolonged contact time of 14 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Safoora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahebi
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.affiliation: Student Research Center Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delroba
authors.affiliation: Student Research Center Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iraji
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul Vincent
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide
keywords: Aloe vera; Zataria multiflora; antimicrobial activity; calcium hydroxide; root canal treatment