Evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of 20% Punica granatum, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate, and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite used alone or in combinations against Enterococcus faecalis: An in-vitro study

OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of 20% Punica granatum, 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate, and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite used alone or in combinations against Enterococcus faecalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aqueous extract of pomegranate peel was prepared in the Pharmacology Departmental Laboratory. A total of 240 wells were prepared (40 for each group) with 5 wells per with a diameter of 6 mm and depth of 4 mm at equidistant from each other. Using a pipette, each well was filled with 50 μl of the test irrigant solution. CHX (0.2%), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, and aqueous extract of pomegranate peel and their combinations were tested as root canal irrigants against a standard strain of E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) on sheep blood agar plate by calculating the zones of inhibition. The mean diameter of zones was calculated and tabulated. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test. Descriptive statistics was obtained using SPSS software (version 11.5) with P established at < 0.05. RESULTS: Combination of Punica granatum with sodium hypochlorite and CHX showed maximum mean zones of inhibition with mean of 23.9 and 25.7 mm, respectively, and showed significantly better results than all other groups either irrigants used alone or in combinations. CONCLUSIONS: Punica granatum and CHX was proved to be a very good combination among experimental groups against E. faecalis, and sodium hypochlorite was least effective against E. Faecalis.