Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of herbal extracts and their effect on the surface characteristics of gutta-percha cones: An in vitro study

Aim: The aim was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of herbal extracts of Origanum vulgare (Oregano) and Vaccinium (Cranberry) for disinfection of gutta-percha (GP) and their effects on surface of GP. Methods: A total of 84 GP points were divided into three groups. Group A (36 cones) was artificially contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus (SA), Group B (36 cones) by Enterococcus faecalis (EF), and Group C (12 cones) by both the organisms each. After the contamination of all the groups, all the points in Groups A and B were divided into three groups of 12 each and were disinfected by four different concentrations of Origanum vulgare and Vaccinium extracts, contaminated but not disinfected and was used as control. The Group C GP points were all disinfected by 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). All the disinfected and the control group samples were then incubated to detect bacterial growth. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined for all the groups of O. vulgare and Vaccinium at all the concentrations. P < 0.05. Results: The present study showed a significantly higher bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity with O. vulgare extract followed by NaOCl as compared to Vaccinium extract against SA and EF. Furthermore, higher surface alterations were seen on GP disinfected with NaOCl and the least with O. vulgare. Conclusion: Considering the amount of surface changes caused by NaOCl on GP when used as a disinfecting solution, O. vulgare extract is a suitable herbal substitute for the same which shows comparatively much lesser topographic changes.