Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha against Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study

BACKGROUND: Nanocurcumin has antimicrobial properties and it is to be tested as a coating on gutta-percha against Enterococcusi faecalis. AIM: To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha against E. faecalis in comparison with conventional gutta-percha. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The broth dilution method and colony-forming unit count assay were chosen for the evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of nanocurcumin against E. faecalis. ISO size 30, 4% taper gutta-percha cones were manually coated with nanocurcumin. All the coated and noncoated gutta-percha cones were examined under a scanning electron microscope to study the exterior surface. Antibacterial efficacy of nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha and conventional gutta-percha was seen by agar diffusion method against E. faecalis. RESULTS: MIC of nanocurcumin was observed at 50 mg/ml for E. faecalis. Nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha showed a larger zone of inhibition when compared to conventional gutta-percha which showed a smaller zone of inhibition (P < 0.0001). Nanocurcumin-coated gutta-percha showed moderate antimicrobial activity, while conventional gutta-percha showed weak activity. CONCLUSION: The results of the study reveal that nanocurcumin has an antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis. The use of herbal alternatives in endodontics might prove to be advantageous.