Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and efficacy of herbal oils and extracts in disinfection of gutta percha cones before obturation

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Literature has shown that micro-organisms contaminate gutta percha (GP) during storage and manipulation. Till date herbal extracts are not explored as an alternative medicament for pre-operative chairside disinfection of GP cones. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of lemon grass oil (LG), basil oil (BO), and obicure tea extract (OT) in disinfecting GP cones before obturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: test were used to assess the effectiveness of herbal extracts to decontaminate GP. RESULTS: < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: All extracts proved to be potential rapid chairside disinfectants of GP cones with LG showing the highest antimicrobial activity.