title: Comparison of Antibacterial Efficacy of Turmeric Extract, Morinda Citrifolia and 3% Sodium Hypochlorite onEnterococcus faecalis: An In-vitro Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), the most commonly used irrigant, has many potential properties like its unique ability to dissolve pulp tissue, excellent antimicrobial activity, but has a cytotoxic effect when injected into periapical tissues. It is also known to produce allergic reactions, foul smell and taste, and potential for corrosion. Facultative organisms such asEnterococcus faecalisand aerobes likeStaphylococcus aureusare considered to be the most resistant species and one of the possible causes of root canal treatment failure. So there is a need to find an alternative to sodium hypochlorite to act against these resistant microorganisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of morinda citrifolia and turmeric extract with 3% NaOCl as a root canal irrigant, againstE. faecalisandS.aureus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antimicrobial efficacy was assessed in vitro using agar well diffusion method. Agar plates were prepared using Brain-Heart Infusion (BHI) agar. Cultures ofE.faecalisandS.aureuswere grown in nutrient broth at 37°C. Plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37°C and microbial zones of inhibition were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NaOCl (3%) showed larger zones of inhibition than herbal irrigants against both the microorganisms. Among the herbal irrigants, morinda citrifolia showed larger zones of inhibition than turmeric hydro-alcoholic extract and turmeric water extract which was statistically significant (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NaOCl (3%) showed maximum antibacterial activity againstE. faecalis, followed by morinda citrifolia and turmeric extracts. Considering the potential for undesirable properties of NaOCl, use of herbal alternatives in endodontics might prove to be advantageous.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Endodontics, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Bathula Vimala
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Chaitanya
authors.affiliation: Professor and HOD, Department of Endodontics, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Kusum Valli
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Somisetty
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Endodontics, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Abhinav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diwan
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Endodontics, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Shiraz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Nandaprasad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Yashwanth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Former Professor, Department of Endodontics, Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences and Hospital , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nadigar
keywords: Endodontics; Herbal extracts; Irrigants; Noni; Periapical