Evaluation of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Propolis Against Enterococcus faecalis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the antibacterial efficacy of three commonly used intracanal medicaments (calcium hydroxide, chlorhexidine gel and calcium hydroxide with iodoform - Vitapex^®) with propolis against Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: One hundred sixty extracted single rooted intact human permanent teeth were used in this study. After root canal preparations and following sterilization, canals were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29121) and were incubated at 37 ± 1 ^oC for 7 days. The teeth were randomly divided into four experimental (Group-I: calcium hydroxide, Group-II: 1.0% Chlorhexidine gel, Group-III: calcium hydroxide with iodoform and Group-IV: propolis) and two control (Group-V: negative control and Group-VI: positive control) groups. Microbiological samples were carried out with sterile paper points 48 hours and 10 days after the medication, and bacterial growth on blood agar was determined. All data were analysed statistically by using SPSS 11.0 with t-test, Mann Whitney test, Kruskal Wallis test and One-way Anova test. Results: At the 48-hour and 10-day results, all experimental medicaments were significanty more effective than the control groups (p<0.05). At the end of the 48-hour period, calcium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide with iodoform was the most effective intracanal medicaments. On the other hand, at the end of the 10-day period, propolis was the most effective intracanal medicament against Enterococcus faecalis. However, the antibacterial efficacy of propolis and chlorhexidine gel was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that propolis had good in vitro antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis isolated from the root canals and it seems to be an alternative intracanal medicament.