Phytochemical composition, GC-MS analysis of Nigella sativum and Eugenia caryophyllus and its antimicrobial efficacy compared with 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite and 2% Chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans - An In vitro study

Abstract

The aim of developing herbal irrigants to replace chemical irrigants during root canal therapy to prevent microbial contamination and infections was selected as the main objective in the present study. Nigella sativa(N.sativa) and Eugenia caryophyllus(E.caryophyllus) are selected to determine whether the extracts can be used as natural irrigants after evaluating their antimicrobial activity against the pathogens. Phytochemical analysis and GC-MS analysis was studied to identify the bioactive compounds attributing to the antimicrobial properties. Inhibitory studies were evaluated against  E.faecalis and C.albicans using the standard well diffusion method. The activity was then compared with the antimicrobial activity of chemical irrigant ( 2% Chlorhexidine(CHX) and 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite(Naocl)). The presence of different phytoconstituents from the ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa and Eugenia caryophyllus was presented. GCMS examination of N.sativa extract identified the presence of potential bioactive compounds as thymoquinone and thymol; and from Eugenia caryophyllus extract caryophyllene and eugenol acetate is found to be the important bioactive compounds attributing for the antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial activity of N.sativa extract exhibited 18mm and 19mm of zones, and Eugenia caryophyllus extracts exhibited 17mm and 19mm against the E. faecalis and C. albicans, respectively. About 17mm and 19mm of inhibitory zones were found evident for 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite, and about 19mm and 20mm of inhibitory zones were obtained for 2% Chlorhexidine against the respective organisms. The overall results showed that herbal irrigants were equally potent to the chemical irrigants in inhibiting the growth of pathogens tested in the study. Hence, these herbal medicines from natural sources can be used alternatively to the chemical irrigants in the near future after performing some optimization studies and clinical trials.