Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of herbal extracts with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite against multispecies dentinal biofilm

Aims: To check the antimicrobial activity of Tinospora cordifolia (TC) (Giloy), Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against 21-day-old multispecies biofilm formed on tooth substrate of extracted human teeth. Settings and Design: In vitro dentin disinfection model used to check the antimicrobial efficacy of herbal extracts. Materials and Methods: The in vitro dentin disinfection model was used to check the antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts of medicinal plants along with NaOCl. The polymicrobial biofilm was allowed to grow on extracted teeth sections for a period of 21 days. Remaining microbial load in the form of CFU/ml after the antimicrobial treatment was tabulated and data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS version 17 one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test. Results: Both the plant extracts showed considerable antimicrobial efficacy as compared to negative control. About 5.25% NaOCl was the most effective antimicrobial agent having statistically significant difference against plant extracts and negative control (saline). Conclusions: The methanolic extract of TC (Giloy), O. sanctum (Tulsi), and 5.25% NaOCl has considerable antimicrobial activity against polymicrobial dentinal biofilm of Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans