Comparison of the Antimicrobial Efficiency of Neem Leaf Extract and 17% Edta with 3% Sodium Hypochlorite against E. faecalis, C. albicans – An in vitro Study

Introduction: Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis are the most predominant microorganisms found in the canals of failed root canal treated teeth. Thorough debridement of an infected root canal and complete elimination of microorganisms are objectives of effective endodontic therapy. For thousands of years, humans have used herbs as the primary means to sort out health issues and illnesses. Not all herbs have shown to provide scientific evidence as medicine to illness. Neem is a Botanical herb that is truly remarkable with its scientific value, a tropical evergreen native to India. Although different agents have been suggested as root canal irrigants, sodium hypochlorite and EDTA are the most popularly used.

Aim: To compare the antimicrobial efficacy of commercially available irrigants, 17% EDTA and a herbal product, neem leaf extract compared with 3% sodium hypochlorite as a control against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans.

Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar well diffusion method. Freshly prepared neem leaf extracts, 17% EDTA, 3% Sodium hypochloriteStandard strain of E. Faecalis and C. Albicans were used in this study. These isolates were subcultured on to Brain heart infusion agar (BHI agar) and HI-chrome candidal differential media respectively. The agar well diffusion test was performed in brain heart infusion media and broth. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and the zone of inhibition was recorded and analyzed statistically.

Results: Zones of inhibition were present with Neem leaf extract suggestive of antimicrobial properties. Zones of inhibition were greater with Neem extract than 17% EDTA. Hence, further research should be directed towards the use of this herbal extract as an irrigant clinically with endodontic therapy.

Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, it was found that neem leaf extract had a significant antimicrobial effect against E. Faecalis and C. Albicans compared to EDTA and Sodium Hypochlorite. Since the study is a qualitative analysis, further testing needs to be done to final quantitative analysis of the antimicrobial activity of neem leaf extract.