CAN ANTI-OXIDANTS REPLACE CALCIUM HYDROXIDE AS INTRA CANAL MEDICAMENT : AN IN VITRO STUDY

Introduction:Endodontics has several main goals, one of which is disinfecting the root canal system. Even though the bacterial load can be effectively reduced by cleaning, shaping, and using antimicrobial medications, some bacteria still survive and proliferate, leading to reinfection. Herbal alternatives have been introduced to counter the inefficacy, possible side effects, and safety concerns associated with synthetic drugs. Herbal irritants are safe and to contain active ingredients with advantageous physiological effects. So, the aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficiency of Antioxidants, i.e., green coffee, Lemon, and Honey with Calcium hydroxide as intra-canal medicaments.

Methodology: A total of 156single-rooted teeth were decorated at the cement-enamel junction. The apical part of the roots was sealed with composite resin to prevent leakage, followed by instrumentation up to the F3 Protaper universal rotary system and bacterial inoculation. The samples weredivided into 5 groups based on intracanal medicament used Ca(OH)â‚‚,lemon extract,honey,green coffee extract and saline, respectively. These samples were incubated for 24 hrs at 37°C, and then scrapings from these teeth were collected in a test tube containing BHI broth and incubated for 24 hrs at 37°C. samples were streaked on agar plates and observed for E.Faecalis colonies. The One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni Multiple Comparison tests were used to analyse the data statistically.

Results: Calcium hydroxide has shown the highest antimicrobial activity compared to other groups. There is no significant difference between lemon and honey. Green coffee has the least antimicrobial property.

Conclusion: Antioxidants have a potential to be used as intracanal medicament if its antibacterial activity could be enhanced.

引言：牙体牙髓病学（Endodontics）有多项核心目标，其中之一是对根管系统进行消毒。尽管通过清洁、成形操作以及使用抗菌药物可有效降低细菌载量，但仍有部分细菌存活并增殖，进而引发再感染。为应对合成药物存在的疗效不足、潜在副作用及安全隐患问题，研究者引入了草药替代方案。草药刺激剂安全性良好，且含有具备有益生理效应的活性成分。本研究旨在评估并比较抗氧化剂（Antioxidants）——即绿咖啡提取物、柠檬提取物与蜂蜜——与氢氧化钙（Calcium hydroxide）作为根管内封药的抗菌效能。

研究方法：共选取156颗单根牙，于牙釉质牙骨质界（cement-enamel junction）处截冠。使用复合树脂（composite resin）封闭牙根根尖段以防止渗漏，随后采用Protaper通用旋转根管预备系统（Protaper universal rotary system）预备至F3型号，并完成细菌接种。根据所使用的根管封药类型，将样本分为5组，分别为氢氧化钙（Ca(OH)₂）组、柠檬提取物组、蜂蜜组、绿咖啡提取物组及生理盐水组。将所有样本置于37℃环境下孵育24小时，随后收集牙面刮取物至装有脑心浸液肉汤（BHI broth）的试管中，再次于37℃孵育24小时。将样本划线接种于琼脂平板，观察粪肠球菌（E. Faecalis）菌落生长情况。采用单因素方差分析（One-way ANOVA）及Bonferroni多重比较检验（Bonferroni Multiple Comparison tests）对数据进行统计学分析。

研究结果：与其余各组相比，氢氧化钙展现出最高的抗菌活性。柠檬提取物组与蜂蜜组之间无显著统计学差异。绿咖啡提取物组的抗菌活性最弱。

研究结论：若能提升抗氧化剂的抗菌活性，其具备作为根管内封药的应用潜力。