Antimicrobial Effect of German chamomile Extractas Root Canal Irrigant (in vitro Study)

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of German chamomile extract as a root canal irrigant in vitro, and comparing its effect with chlorhexidine 0.2% irrigant solution.
 Materials and Methods: Twenty adult patients with age range 18-40 years attending dental school with symptomatic uniradicular teeth with necrotic pulp diagnosed by radiograph with no fistula or sinus tract were chosen; 10 subjects for each irrigant solution (the test and the control groups). Microbiological samples were obtained from the root canal at the beginning of the first appointment, and then moistened paper point is placed in a screw capped vial containing 5 ml Thioglycolate broth for anacrobic bacteria and the other containing Brain Heart Infusion broth for aerobic bacteria, which is incubated directly for 18 hours at 37 °C. Turbidity test was used to compare antimicrobial effect of German chamomile extract with chlorhexidine 0.2%.
 Results: Mean reduction in bacterial count (0.36 + 0.09 for acrobic and 0.19 + 0.02 for anacrobic) for German chamomile and chlorhexidine 0.2% (0.084 + 0.03 and 0.052 + 0.016 respectively) were determined by using onc sample t-test, which was much lower for German chamomile than for chlorhexidine 0.2% with significant difference. For comparison between two materials for acrobic and anacrobic, unpaired t-test was used. Results were considered significant at p < 0.05.
 Conclusion: German chamomile extract is effective antimicrobial irrigant solution especially on anaerobic bacteria but much lower than chlorhexidine 0.2% irrigant solution.