Comparative Evaluation of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Nanocurcumin-, Neem-, Sodium Hypochlorite- and Chlorhexidine-Coated Gutta-Percha Against Enterococcus faecalis: An In Vitro Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ajm.2026.9.02.14Keywords:
Enterococcus faecalis, gutta-percha, nanocurcumin, neem, antibacterial coatingAbstract
Background: Residual microorganisms may persist after chemomechanical preparation and contribute to post-treatment endodontic disease. Incorporating antimicrobial agents onto gutta-percha could provide supplementary antibacterial activity within the obturated canal. Aim: To compare the antibacterial efficacy of gutta-percha coated with nanocurcumin, neem extract, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and 2% chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: Sterilised ISO F2 gutta-percha cones were divided into five groups: conventional gutta-percha, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite-coated gutta-percha, 2% chlorhexidine-coated gutta-percha, neem extract-coated gutta-percha and nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha. Each group comprised five observations. Nutrient agar plates were uniformly inoculated with an E. faecalis suspension containing approximately 10⁵–10⁶ cells/mL. Prepared gutta-percha specimens were placed on the inoculated plates and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The largest diameter of the inhibition zone was measured in millimetres using a digital vernier calliper. Results: Sodium hypochlorite-coated gutta-percha produced the largest mean inhibition zone (4.386±0.394 mm), followed by chlorhexidine (3.700±0.126 mm), nanocurcumin (2.704±0.071 mm), neem extract (2.026±0.038 mm) and conventional gutta-percha (0.464±0.021 mm). The overall difference was statistically significant (F=338.50; p<0.001), and every pairwise comparison was significant. Conclusion: All four coatings increased the antibacterial activity of gutta-percha. Sodium hypochlorite
and chlorhexidine demonstrated the strongest effects, while nanocurcumin performed better than neem extract.
Downloads
References
Kakehashi, S., Stanley, H. R., & Fitzgerald, R. J. (1965). The effects of surgical exposures of dental pulps in germ-free and conventional laboratory rats. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, 20, 340–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-4220(65)90166-0
Sundqvist, G., Figdor, D., Persson, S., & Sjögren, U. (1998). Microbiologic analysis of teeth with failed endodontic treatment and the outcome of conservative re-treatment. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics, 85(1), 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1079-2104(98)90404-8
Stuart, C. H., Schwartz, S. A., Beeson, T. J., & Owatz, C. B. (2006). Enterococcus faecalis: Its role in root canal treatment failure and current concepts in retreatment. Journal of Endodontics, 32(2), 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2005.10.049
Siqueira, J. F., Jr., & Rôças, I. N. (2008). Clinical implications and microbiology of bacterial persistence after treatment procedures. Journal of Endodontics, 34(11), 1291–1301.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2008.07.028
Jhamb, A., Chaurasia, V. R., Masamatti, V. K., Agarwal, J. H., Tiwari, S., & Nair, D. (2014). In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of different gutta-percha points and calcium hydroxide pastes. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 4(2), 92–95. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0762.137648
Estrela, C., Silva, J. A., de Alencar, A. H., Leles, C. R., & Decurcio, D. A. (2008). Efficacy of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Oral Science, 16(6), 364–368. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-77572008000600002
Panwar, D., Sidhu, K., Bhushan, J., Kakkar, V., Mehta, M., & Sharma, J. (2023). Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha against Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry, 26(2), 160–164. https://doi.org/10.4103/jcd.jcd_512_22
Kowalski, J., Rygas, J., Homa, K., Dobrzyński, W., Wiglusz, R. J., Matys, J., & Dobrzyński, M. (2024). Antibacterial activity of endodontic gutta-percha—A systematic review. Applied Sciences, 14(1), 388. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010388
Luddin, N., & Ahmed, H. M. (2013). The antibacterial activity of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis: A review on agar diffusion and direct contact methods. Journal of Conservative Dentistry, 16(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-0707.105291
Sinha, D. J., Nandha, K. D. S., Jaiswal, N., Vasudeva, A., Tyagi, P. S., & Singh, U. P. (2017). Antibacterial effect of Azadirachta indica (neem) or Curcuma longa (turmeric) against Enterococcus faecalis compared with that of 5% sodium hypochlorite or 2% chlorhexidine in vitro. Bulletin of Tokyo Dental College, 58(2), 103–109. https://doi.org/10.2209/tdcpublication.2015-0029
Wylie, M. R., & Merrell, D. S. (2022). The antimicrobial potential of the neem tree Azadirachta indica. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 891535. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.891535
Chandrappa, P. M., Dupper, A., Tripathi, P., Arroju, R., Sharma, P., & Sulochana, K. (2015). Antimicrobial activity of herbal medicines (tulsi extract, neem extract) and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis in endodontics: An in vitro study. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 5(Suppl. 2), S89–S92. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0762.172952
Sharma, J., Panwar, D., Bhushan, J., Mehta, M., Sidhu, K., Jhamb, S., & Kakkar, V. (2023). An in vitro evaluation of antibacterial effect of curcumin-loaded chitosan nanoparticle-coated gutta-percha against Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Conservative Dentistry Endodontics, 26(5), 560–563. https://doi.org/10.4103/jcd.jcd_302_23
Sharma, J., Bhushan, J., Mehta, M., Sidhu, K., Jhamb, S., Panwar, D., Kakkar, V., & Kumari, P. (2024). Comparative evaluation of the antibacterial activity of curcumin-coated gutta-percha versus nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha against Escherichia coli: An in vitro study. Journal of Conservative Dentistry Endodontics, 27(4), 383–387. https://doi.org/10.4103/JCDE.JCDE_342_23
Rumhein, P. G., Layous, K. J., Achour, H., Mousa, M. M., Deeb, H., & Hajeer, M. Y. (2023). Antimicrobial efficacy of two different calcium hydroxide endodontic dressings on the eradication of Enterococcus faecalis in single-rooted canals: An in vitro study. Cureus, 15(6), e40056. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40056
Adnan, S., Lal, A., Lone, M. M., Ahmed, J., Sajjad, I., Shareef, H., & Zafar, M. S. (2025). Antimicrobial efficacy of nanoparticle-coated gutta-percha: A systematic review. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 35(2), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2025.02.213
