Antimicrobial Activity of Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, and EDTA with and without Propolis against Enterococcus Faecalis and Candida Albicans

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of chelation agents on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) when used alone or in combination with propolis. Methods: One hundred fifty mandibular premolar teeth were selected. Each canal was prepared with Reciproc R۲۵. The roots were then divided into two parts along their long axis (n=۳۰۰). For E. faecalis and C. albicans, the samples were divided into ۱۶ groups (۱۴ experimental and ۲ control) as follows: Group ۱A-۱B [۱۷% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)], Group ۲A-۲B [۱۰% Citric Acid (CA)], Group ۳A-۳B [۱% phytic acid/inositol hexaphosphate (IP۶)], Group ۴A-۴B (۱۷% EDTA+۸ mg/mL propolis), Group ۵A-۵B (۱۰% CA+۸ mg/mL propolis), Group ۶A-۶B (۱% IP۶+۸mg/mL propolis), Group ۷A-۷B (۸ mg/mL propolis), Control A-B (Dimethyl Sulfoxide). Each tooth was randomly irrigated with ۲ mL of one of the group solutions or dispersions for ۵ min, and the solutions were examined for the bactericidal effect. Results: For C. albicans, all groups showed less optical density (OD) than the control group (P<۰.۰۵). The propolis group and the IP۶ group had higher OD values ​​than the CA group (P<۰.۰۵). For E. faecalis, on the other hand, significantly lower OD values were observed in the propolis+ CA group, compared to the CA and propolis groups (P<۰.۰۵). There was no significant difference between microbial growth among IP۶, EDTA, propolis+ CA, propolis+IP۶, and propolis+ EDTA groups (P>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: CA and IP۶ showed promising results in eliminating E. faecalis, one of the collective organisms responsible for failed root canals.

Keywords:

Antimicrobial efficacy , citric acid , EDTA , endodontic microbiology , phytic acid