Development of a High Penetration Safe Irrigant from Withania somnifera

BACKGROUND: Herbal medicine is regaining a strong position in health care by virtue of better safety and minimal toxicity as compared to conventional chemotherapies. It is making a place in dental care in the form of various toothpastes, lotions, and mouthwashes. It has been analyzed that very few discrete herbal irrigants have an action comparable to that of sodium hypochlorite. No data about any study on penetration depth and penetration area for herbal-based irrigants used in root canal treatment are available. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Withania somnifera extracts by assessing its penetration depth and area inside dentinal tubules using a confocal laser scanning microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Freshly extracted 25 maxillary central incisors were divided into three groups: Group 1: W. somnifera; Group 2: sodium hypochlorite; and Group 3: distilled water. RESULTS: W. somnifera showed better results with respect to penetration depth and area inside the dentinal tubules thansodium hypochlorite. CONCLUSION: From the study, it can be concluded that W. somnifera extract-based irrigant may be used as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite-based irrigant. It also shows that more herbal drugs need such types of screening and incorporation in dental practice to reduce the potential side effects of the conventional drugs used in daily practice.