Comparison of antimicrobial effect of Ziziphora tenuior, Dracocephalum moldavica, Ferula gummosa, and Prangos ferulacea essential oil with chlorhexidine on Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study

Abstract

Background: Different irrigating solutions with high antimicrobial activity have been introduced for
cleaning of the root canal system. However, effects of Prangos ferulacea (PF), Ziziphora tenuior (ZT),
Dracocephalum moldavica (DM), and Ferula gummosa (FG) on oral and dental pathogens have not
been extensively evaluated due to their optimal biocompatibility and insignificant side effects. The
aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effects of essential oils of mentioned plants on
Enterococcus faecalis.
Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study the plants were collected from Zanjan Province,
Iran. Analysis of the essential oil was carried out by gas chromatography/mass chromatography.
Micro‑broth dilution and disc diffusion methods were used for assessment of the antimicrobial
activity, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
were evaluated.
Results: All the four essential oils had antibacterial effects on E. faecalis, and ZT had the greatest
antibacterial activity. Assessment of the mean diameter of the growth inhibition zone showed higher
antibacterial activity of PF and ZT than that of chlorhexidine. The MIC and MBC of ZT showed that the
antimicrobial activity of ZT against E. faecalis was greater than that of other plants evaluated in this study.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicated significant antibacterial effects of the mentioned
plants on E. faecalis. The greatest antimicrobial activity belonged to ZT. The current study suggests
extraction of effective compounds in these medicinal plants to use them in the clinical setting.
Key Words: Chlorhexidine, Dracocephalum moldavica, Enterococcus faecalis, Ferula