In vivo Comparison of Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Octenidine Dihydrochloride and Artemisia annua Plant Extract as Root Canal Irrigant

The present in-vivo study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of Octenidine dihydrochloride and Artemisia annua plant extract as root canal irrigants.

Forty two non-vital maxillary central incisors were selected from healthy patients and divided into four groups i.e. Group 1 (Saline + Octenidine dihydrochloride) Group 2 (Octenidine dihydrochloride alone) Group 3 (Saline+Artemisia annua plant extract) and group 4 (Artemisia annua plant extract alone). After the root canal access opening first microbiological sample (S1) was collected by introducing two sterile paper points. Samples were placed in thioglycollate broth and peptone water for anaerobic and aerobic culture respectively. The samples were immediately transferred to the laboratory in respective broths for culturing. The canal preparation was carried out following step back technique and sample (S2) was taken after canal preparation was completed. Then final sample (S3) was collected after irrigation with respective irrigant used in each group. The number of colony forming units was counted in each group using digital colony counter. The statistical analysis was carried out using paired T test.

The reduction in CFU count for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria after final irrigation was maximum in Group1 followed by Group 4, Group 3 and Group2. Statistically highly significant reduction in CFU/mL count was found in Group 1.

Octenidine dihyrochloride in combination with normal saline had significantly greater antimicrobial effect than Artemisia annua plant extract.