The comparison of calcium hydroxide, curcumin, and Aloe vera antibacterial effects on 6‑week‑old Enterococcus faecalis biofilm as an intracanal medicament: An in vitro study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the antibacterial effects of calcium hydroxide, curcumin,
and Aloe vera as an intracanal medicament on 6‑week‑old Enterococcus faecalis biofilm.
Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, the solution containing E. faecalis ATCC® 29212™
was inserted into the canals of 72 single‑rooted teeth to produce biofilm. The samples were divided
into four groups, and the antibacterial agent as an intracanal drug was used for 1 week. Calcium
hydroxide, curcumin, and A. vera were used as intracanal medicaments in three groups, respectively,
and the fourth group was irrigated with normal saline. The collected debris was cultured by spread
plate method for the bacterial count by colony count machine, and the number of bacteria in each
sample per ml was reported in colony‑forming unit per ml (CFU/ml). The data were analyzed using
SPSS software. KruskalWallis and MannWhitney U‑tests were used for comparison of CFU/ml
between the study groups. P <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The mean CFU/ml in the groups of calcium hydroxide, curcumin, and A. vera were 749.44,
630.55, and 1529.16, respectively. Compared with the control group, curcumin, calcium hydroxide,
and A. vera showed 99.5%, 99.41%, and 98.79% antimicrobial effects, respectively. All three groups
were significantly effective than the control group (P = 0.023, P = 0.023, and P = 0.024, respectively)
but were not significantly different from each other (P = 0.057).
Conclusion: All three groups showed significant antibacterial activity compared to the control
group, curcumin had the most significant effect, followed by calcium hydroxide and A. vera. Therefore,
herbal materials can be considered safe alternatives to synthetic medicaments for intracanal usage.
Key Words: Aloe, biofilms, calcium hydroxide, curcumin, Enterococcus faecalis