Abstract
Aim To compare the antibacterial efficacy of irrigants (aloe vera, 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), and saline) against Enterococcus faecalis using the turbidometric analysis and colony count method. Materials and methods Eighty freshly extracted, single-rooted, human mandibular premolar teeth were taken. Access opening was done, instrumented, and autoclaved. Samples were inoculated with 10 µL of an Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) bacterial suspension and incubated at 37(◦)C for three days. Samples were divided into four groups of 20 teeth each based on the type of irrigating solution used. Group 1 was irrigated with 3% sodium hypochlorite; Group 2 with 2% chlorhexidine; group 3 with aloe vera; and Group 4 with 0.9% saline (the control group). Ten teeth from each group were subjected to a turbidity analysis by spectrophotometer and the remaining 10 teeth from each group were tested for colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The plates were incubated at 37(◦)C for 24 hours and CFU that were grown were counted using a bacterial colony counter. Results were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a post hoc Games-Howell test. Results All the tested irrigating solutions demonstrated an antibacterial effect against E. faecalis. The greatest antimicrobial effects were observed in samples treated with 2% CHX (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between 3% NaOCl and aloe vera (p > 0.001) against E. faecalis. Conclusion Two percent chlorhexidine exhibited good antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis. Three percent NaOCl and aloe vera showed a similar antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis. Aloe vera can be used as an antibacterial agent in novel drugs for the treatment of bacterial diseases.