1Post Graduate student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab-143005, India
2Professor & Head of Department Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab-143005, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Manreet Parhar, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab-143005, India. Email: manreetp16@yahoo.com
Online published on 15 September, 2022.
To comparatively evaluate the cytotoxicity of commercially available root canal irrigants with 2% Withaniasomnifera herbal extract.
In this study, cytotoxicity was evaluated by using Mosmann's Tetrazolium Toxicity (MTT) [3–4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. Optical density of the solution was read at 540690 nm wavelength. The intensity of color generated correlated with the percentage of viable cells. The experiment was performed in three replicates.
Cytotoxicity varies in the following order: 5% Sodium hypochlorite > 2% Chlorhexidine>2% Withaniasomnifera ethanolic extract. These results indicate that the cytoprotective nature of Withania somnifera extract at lower concentrations (<0.2 mg/mL).
Considering the undesirable effects of the conventional root canal irrigants, herbal extract could be an alternative root canal irrigant with least toxicity.
Withania somnifera has variety of preventive and therapeutic properties owing to its bioactive components, steroidal alkaloids and lactones. It is known for its high antimicrobial efficacy and is effective against Enterococcus faecalis. It has high potential to be used as an alternative to chemical irrigants, but there is no research in the literature on the safety and effectiveness of this extract as dental irrigant.
Withaniasomnifera, Sodium hypochlorite, Chlorhexidine, Cytotoxicity
