title: An In Vitro Comparison of Antimicrobial Effects of Curcumin-Based Photodynamic Therapy and Chlorhexidine, on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the importance of prevention in periodontal diseases and the important role of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in induction and progression of these diseases, the aim of the present in vitro study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), curcumin and light-emitting diode (LED) laser, on this bacterium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antimicrobial activity of curcumin (5 mg/ml), CHX (2%), LED (120 J/cm(2)) and LED + curcumin (120 J/cm(2) + 2.5 mg/ml) against A. actinomycetemcomitans were tested in vitro, using micro-broth dilution test. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD tests served for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), CHX had a significantly lower MIC than curcumin (P < 0.05). Sorted out by bacterial growth from lowest to highest, were CHX, LED + curcumin, curcumin, and LED groups. All the differences were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) except for the LED group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that curcumin is an effective substance in preventing the growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans, whose impact is reinforced when used simultaneously with photodynamic therapy (PDT).
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, International Campus, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Dental Research Center and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shamsoulmolouk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, International Campus, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khayamzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paknejad
authors.affiliation: International Campus, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Golfam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poursepanj
authors.affiliation: International Campus, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kharazi Fard
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahador
keywords: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; Chlorhexidine; Curcumin; Photodynamic therapy