RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of two brands of root canal sealers, epoxy-resin based and zinc oxide-eugenol based, and one commercial calcium hydroxide paste on a monocyte cell line THP-1. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Undiluted (crude extract) and diluted extracts to 10 percent, 1 percent, 0.1 percent, 0.01 percent, 0.001 percent and 0.0001 percent of the sealers were tested for cytotoxicity to THP-1 cells using the trypan blue assay. Extracts were obtained according to ISO standard. Data were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at 5 percent significance level. RESULTS: Crude extract of AH Plus and Fill Canal killed approximately 90 percent of THP-1 cells versus 36 percent of THP-1 cells killed by L&C crude extract (p<0.05). Ten-fold dilutions of L&C, Fill Canal and AH Plus killed 24, 35 and 61 percent of THP-1 cells (p<0.05), respectively. Dilutions lesser than 1 percent caused minimal cell death as compared to the control groups (p>0.05), except for L&C 1 percent extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that the L&C paste crude extract was less cytotoxic to THP-1 cells than AH Plus or Fill Canal crude extracts.