Comparative evaluation and antibacterial efficacy of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract, grape seed extract, and 2%...

Dental caries can often advance unnoticed, leading to pulpal involvement. Endodontic treatment eradicates pulpal infections, with the effectiveness of treatment heavily dependent on microbial reduction. Sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine are commonly used irrigants, but both have limitations. Moringa oleifera and grape seed (GS) extracts are known for their antimicrobial properties, and these natural remedies offer potential solutions to combat persistent microbial challenges like Enterococcus faecalis during root canal disinfection.

This study aimed to evaluate antibacterial efficacy and the sustained antimicrobial substantivity of M. oleifera Lam. leaf extract, GS extract (GSE), and 2% chlorhexidine against E. faecalis .

Forty anonymized extracted permanent single-rooted mandibular human teeth samples were inoculated with E. faecalis and incubated for 3 weeks. Samples were allocated into four experimental groups, each comprising ten samples: Group 1 - M. oleifera Lam. leaf extract, Group 2 - GSE, Group 3 - 2% chlorhexidine (positive control), and Group 4 - saline (negative control). Root canals were prepared up to size #40 K-file and rinsed with 3 mL of the respective irrigating solution between every file change. Microbiological assessment involved four collections using H-file: immediately postinstrumentation, 24 h postinstrumentation, 7 days postinstrumentation, and 14 days postinstrumentation. CFU/ml was determined.

Antibacterial efficacy of Moringa leaf extract was significantly higher ( P < 0.001*) when compared to GSE. All groups showed antibacterial efficacy significantly different from each other with the greatest being 2% chlorhexidine > Moringa leaf extract > GSE.

M. oleifera Lam. leaf extract and GSE both showed antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis and can be potential irrigants in the future. However, its antibacterial efficacy is significantly less when compared to that of 2% chlorhexidine.