Use of Flaxseed Oil as a Root Canal Medicament Against Enterococcus Faecalis Biofilm (In Vitro Study).

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of different concentrations of natural cold-pressed flaxseed oil when used as an intra-canal medicament against Enterococcus faecalis.

Materials and methods: The antibacterial efficiency of flaxseed oil against E. faecalis was assessed in two sections using different concentrations. Both sections were compared to calcium hydroxide and tricresol formalin. The first section was on the agar, using two methods: agar diffusion and vaporization. The second section is on the extracted roots contaminated with E. faecalis for 21 days to form biofilms, confirmed by SEM examination, and includes two different methods: direct contact and vaporization. Bacterial swabs were collected before and after medication throughout two-time periods (3 and 7 days). The canal contents were swabbed using paper points kept for 1 minute in the root canal, and the collected samples were diluted and cultivated on plates containing blood agar. Survival fractions were determined by calculating the number of colony-forming units on culture medium after 24 hours.

The oil's minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) against E. faecalis were determined using the micro-broth dilution method.

The active components in flaxseed oil were evaluated using GC-MS and HPLC analysis.

Results: The tested oil demonstrated antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis in different concentrations and levels. The MBC was 22.5 µl/ml. Tricresol formalin induced powerful antibacterial action, while calcium hydroxide exhibited less effective antibacterial action as compared to flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil contains numerous biologically active components.

Conclusion: Flaxseed oil exhibits strong antibacterial activity when evaluated against E. faecalis biofilm that has been cultivated in root canals.