Can mouth washes containing chlorhexidine 0.12% be used as synonym of a water solution of chlorhexidine 0.12%? / Pode lavagens da boca contendo 0.12 % de clorexidina ser utilizado como sinónimo de uma solução aquosa de cloro-hexidina 0.12 % ?

Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) is a gold standard drug in dentistry and is widely used as a reference in both in vitro and in vivoexperiments. Due to ease of access, mouth washes containing CHX 0.12% are used as a substitute for aqueous CHX 0.12% solution in laboratory experiments. Additionally, it is well known that for product flavor purposes, volatile compounds are added to mouth washes formulations. Volatiles added to CHX 0.12% may improve wash's antibacterial ability. Volatiles add potency to the mouth wash formulation. Compared with an aqueous CHX 0.12% solution, it is proposed that CHX solutions and Periogard^® would have antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was assessed in the present study via disk diffusion assays against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinisand Escherichia coli. Periogard^® showed a significantly higher antibacterial activity in relation to CHX 0.12% (p<0.05) and a similar activity in relation to CHX 1% (p>0.05). Periogard^(r) volatiles were analyzed by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) and the presence of antibacterial menthol, menthone, isomenthol, menthyl acetate, trans-anethol and eugenol was verified. Finally, the use of Periogard^® as a synonym of CHX 0.12% must be avoided, because its antibacterial activity is closely related to CHX 1%...

Gluconato de clorexidina (CHX) é um fármaco considerado padrão ouro, em Odontologia, amplamente usado como referência em estudos in vitro e in vivo. Em razão da facilidade de acesso, enxaguatórios bucais que contêm CHX 0,12% são usados em substituição à solução aquosa de clorexidina (CHX 0,12%), em experimentos laboratoriais. É sabido que devido à palatabilidade do produto, os mesmos enxaguatórios bucais contêm compostos voláteis em sua formulação, além da CHX 0.12%. Visto que voláteis adicionados podem acrescentar poder antibacteriano à formulação, a comparação da resposta antibacteriana da solução aquosa de CHX em diferentes concentrações e de Periogard^® é proposta no presente artigo. Para tanto, utilizou-se o ensaio do disco de difusão em ágar com inóculos de Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis e Escherichia coli. Periogard^® mostrou atividade antibacteriana significativa contra as três cepas analisadas, quando comparada à atividade de CHX 0.12% (p<0,05) e atividade similar à CHX diluída a 1% (p>0,05). A presença de compostos voláteis no Periogard^® foi analisada por GC-MS e observou-se que mentol, mentona, isomentol, acetato de mentila, trans-anetol e eugenol estão presentes na formulação. Deste modo, o uso de Periogard^(r) como sinônimo de CHX 0,12% deve ser evitado, uma vez que sua atividade se assemelha àquela da CHX diluída a 1%...

An in vitro study of antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine on Enterococcus faecalis.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the antibacterial effects of chlorhexidine and calcium hydroxide on Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: Root canal treatment involves a number of steps. In spite of all the steps done thoroughly, root canal treatment might fail due to the remnant microbes. Of all such bacteria, E. faecalis is found in failed root canals. The study tests the antibacterial activity of various intracanal medicaments. Agar diffusion test was used to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the following antibacterial agents: i. hexidine:0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate; ii. periogard:0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate; iii. calcium hydroxide powder plus sterile water; iv. metapaste plus sterile water; v. calcium hydroxide plus hexidine; vi. calcium hydroxide plus periogard; vii. metapaste plus hexidine; viii. metapaste plus periogard. The size of zones of inhibition was measured. Results: The average size of zones of inhibition after 72 hours were hexidine: 5 mm; periogard: 4.25 mm; calcium hydroxide plus sterile water: 0.5 mm; metapaste plus sterile water: 0.5 mm; calcium hydroxide plus hexidine: 4.7 mm; calcium hydroxide plus periogard: 4 mm; metapaste plus hexidine: 4.65 mm; metapaste plus periogard: 4 mm. Results were subjected to statistical analysis using one way analysis of variance and Tukey tests. Conclusion: Chlorhexidine and its preparations are more potent antibacterial agents againstE. faecalis in comparison to calcium hydroxide.