title: Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Aloe vera, garlic, and 5% sodium hypochlorite as root canal irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enterococcus faecalis are the most resistant and predominant microorganisms recovered from root canals of teeth where previous treatment has failed. Over the past decade, interest in drugs derived from medicinal plants has markedly increased. In dentistry, phytomedicines has been used as an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, analgesic, sedative, and also as an endodontic irrigant. In endodontics, because of the cytotoxic reactions of most of the commercial intracanal medicaments and their inability to eliminate bacteria completely from dentinal tubules, the trend is shifting toward use of biologic medication extracted from natural plants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the antimicrobial efficacy of newer irrigating agents which would probably be as effective or more and at the same time less irritating to the tissues than sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The objective of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of saturated and diluted (1:1) hydroalcoholic extract of Aloe vera, garlic, and 5% NaOCl against E. faecalis using the commonly used agar diffusion method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Saturated hydroalcoholic extract of A. vera showed the highest zone of inhibition against E. faecalis. NaOCl, which is considered as gold standard, also showed higher zones of inhibition.
authors.forename: Swati Ramesh
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Karkare
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, MGV's KBH Dental College and Hospital, Nashik, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Nivedita Pramod
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Ahire
authors.forename: Smita Uday
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Khedkar
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005737:Garlic; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite