Abstract

Aim: To investigate the antimicrobial effects of Citrus limonum and calcium hydroxide comparatively and, to evaluate MIC, MBC, and MFC levels for some microorganismal strains of the root canal microbial flora.
Materials and methods: Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli standard strains were used. Microorganisms were cultivated and used for the evaluation of antimicrobial effect of the different concentrations of the C.limonum and calcium hydroxide using disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods. Then MIC, MBC and MFC values were recorded.
Results: Wider inhibition zones were obtained for C.limonum essential oil compared to calcium hydroxide. In the agar well diffusion method, while widest inhibition zone was obtained for C.albicans, the narrowest inhibition zone has been observed for E.faecalis for C.limonum. For calcium hydroxide, widest inhibition zone was in C.albicans cultures, however narrowest inhibition zone have been observed for S.mutans. In the agar disc diffusion method, the widest inhibition zone observed for C.albicans, and the narrowest inhibition zone was spotted in S.aureus for Citrus limonum. For calcium hydroxide, while the widest inhibition zone again reached for C.albicans, the narrowest inhibition zone was found for E.faecalis. The lowest MIC and MBC value for Citrus limonum observed in S.mutans. For calcium hydroxide, the lowest MIC and MBC values were recorded for S.aureus, E.coli, and S.mutans.
Conclusion: Data in experimental conditions showed that C.limonum essential oil may be an alternative candidate, and superior to calcium hydroxide in terms of antimicrobial activity for all chosen members of intracanal flora.

Key words: Citrus limonum; essential oil; antimicrobial effect