Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of bleached turmeric hydro-alcoholic extract versus sodium hypochlorite as an endodontic irrigant: in vitro study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the cytotoxicity and antibacterial effect of bleached turmeric hydro-alcoholic extractcompared to sodium hypochlorite as an endodontic irrigant. Material and Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluatedon human skin fibroblasts using MTT assay. The irrigants were tested at 1, 5- and 15-minutes time intervals. Aftercontact time, MTT solution was added and well plates were incubated. After the incubation period, optical densitywas read and correlated with cell viability percent. Antibacterial efficiency was evaluated using direct contact test.Each endodontic irrigant was added to fresh Enterococcus faecalis suspension and brain heart infusion media thenincubated for 48 hours. After incubation period, optical density readings were obtained and read by ELISA readerat 620 nm. Results: Results of cytotoxicity test revealed that bleached turmeric extract had significant higher cellviability percent than Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at all time intervals (p<0.001). However, in the interventiongroup, cell viability percent significantly decreased over time. Results of antibacterial test showed bacterial inhibitionby both groups with non-significant difference between the two tested groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Bleachedturmeric hydro-alcoholic extract can represent an herbal alternative endodontic irrigant to avoid the undesirabletoxic effects of NaOCl due to its less cytotoxicity and prominent antibacterial effect against Enterococcus faecalis. KEYWORDSAntibacterial effect; Bleached turmeric; Cytotoxicity; Endodontic irrigantion; Sodium hypochlorite.