ABSTRACT
Context: It is important to develop new therapeutic materials that have requisite clinical actions, are safe and economical. Aims: This study aims to histologically evaluate curcumin, an extract of turmeric (Curcuma longa) as a pulpotomy agent in rat molars and to compare it to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Settings and Design: Animal study. Subjects and Methods: Twelve Wistar-Albino rats were randomly divided into two groups of 6 each. Pulpotomies were performed on caries free maxillary first and second molars on both sides of the arch, with MTA and curcumin (24 teeth each), respectively. Access cavities were sealed with resin-modified glass ionomer cement. Postoperative histological evaluation of pulpotomized teeth in both groups was done at 7, 14, and 30 days under a light microscope (×10). Statistical Analysis Used: Data were evaluated with Freidman's test and Mann–Whitney test at 0.05 level. Results: (a) There was a gradual reduction in inflammatory cell response in both groups across time periods tested (MTA P = 0.074, curcumin P = 0.039). (b) The overall architecture of pulp was maintained better in the curcumin group across all time periods tested (P = 0.368). (c) Dentinal bridge formation was consistently seen across time periods tested in MTA group (P = 0.9094) and was feeble in curcumin group (P = 0.9094) across time periods tested. Conclusions: Curcumin has been shown to have wound healing properties. It has the potential to be developed into a predictable and cost-effective vital pulp therapy medicament.
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study was to investigate the anti-bacterial potential of curcumin, against standard strains of common endodontic bacteria. The bacterial strains of Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 35668), Actinomyces viscosus (ATCC 10048), Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 334), Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277), Prevotella intermedia (ATCC 25611), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) from the stock were revived by plating on blood agar medium. Isolated colonies were transferred to sterile Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth and once again incubated overnight. The growth concentration was adjusted to 5 X 105 organisms / ml by using 0.5 McFarland’s turbidity standard. MIC was determined, by serial broth dilution of curcumin to 500, 250,125, 62.5, 31.25, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1 μg /ml. respectively. The tubes were then incubated for 24 hours at 37o C. The last tube with clear supernatant was considered to be without any growth and taken as MIC value. Mean MIC values of curcumin were as follows: S. mutans (333.33 μg /ml), A. viscosus (167.67 μg /ml), L. casei (125 μg /ml), P. gingivalis (125 μg /ml), and P. intermedia (208.33 μg /ml). There was no action against E. faecalis. Thus, we can conclude that curcumin has the potential to be developed into medicament for the treatment of various endodontic diseases.