title: In vitro comparison of antimicrobial effect of sodium hypochlorite solution and Zataria multiflora essential oil as irrigants in root canals contaminated with Candida albicans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compared the antifungal effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil (EO) with that of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an irrigant for root canals infected with Candida albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty mandibular premolars were infected with C. albicans suspension. After 72 h of incubation, the samples were divided into four groups. Teeth in Group 1 were irrigated with minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of Z. multiflora EO, in Group 2 with twice the MFC of Z. multiflora, in Group 3 with MFC of NaOCl, and in Group 4 with distilled water (DW). Pre- and post-operative samples were cultured, and fungal colony count of each specimen was obtained. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  NaOCl at MFC and Z. multiflora EO at twice the MFC showed the highest antifungal efficacy, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). However, antifungal efficacies of these irrigants were significantly different from those of Z. multiflora EO at MFC and DW (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that Z. multiflora EO at twice the MFC had the same antifungal efficacy as NaOCl at MFC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sedigh-Shams
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycology, Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Badiee
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Biomaterials Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adl
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, International Branch, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Milad Dadollahi
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sarab
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Prevention of Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nabavizadeh
keywords: Candida albicans; Zataria multiflora; essential oil; sodium hypochlorite