ANTIMICROBIAL AND DECONTAMINATION EFFICACY OF NEEM, ALOE VERA AND NEEM+ ALOE VERA IN GUTTA PERCHA (GP) CONES USING ESCHERICHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AS CONTAMINANTS

Abstract

GP cones (Gutta Percha Cones) are materials used in the third phase of endodontic treatment by dentists worldwide. They are usually sterilized by chemical decontaminants including 70% ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and chlorohexidine which have adverse side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of natural elements like Neem, Aloe Vera and Neem+ Aloe Vera to disinfect GP cones. Antimicrobial activity of these natural extracts was checked against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (common contaminants of GP cones) using agar well diffusion. In order to measure decontamination competency, GP cones were first immersed in test organisms for ten minutes, followed by submersion in extracts for 1 minute and turbidity was checked in nutrient broth after 24 hours at 37o C. In terms of antimicrobial efficacy, Neem showed highest zone of inhibition followed by Neem+ Aloe Vera and Aloe vera respectively for E. coli. In S. aureus, Neem and Aloe Vera showed highest zone followed by Neem + Aloe Vera. Decontamination efficacy of Aloe Vera was highest against E. coli contaminated GP cones followed by Neem and Neem + Aloe Vera. Similarly, Aloe Vera was much effective against S. aureus contaminated GP cones followed by Neem and Neem + Aloe Vera.