Ayurvedic and other herbs used in various aspects in Endodontics

1. Herbs in Endodontics
Presented by : Dr Ashish chhajlani

2. Introduction
Herbal product have been used since ancient times in
folk medicine, involving both eastern and western
medicinal tradition.
In dentistry Phytomedicines has been used as anti-
inflammatory, antibiotic, analgesic and sedative agents.
In endodontics because of the cytotoxic reaction of the
most of the interracial medicament used and their
inability to eliminate bacteria , trend of use
Phytomedicines in now widely common.

3. Definition
According to WHO herbal medicine is defined as
plant derived material or preparation which contains
raw or processed ingredients from one or more
plants with therapeutic values.
Botanically speaking a herb is any plant that lacks
the woody tissue characteristics of shrubs or trees.
They are plants used medicinally for their flavour or
scent.

4. Classification
Phytomedicines can be classified by 2 ways :
A) Phytotherapeutic substances are generally
classified in to three basic groups according to
there origin :
1. Plant products
2. Animal products
3. Mineral origin

5. B) on the basis of there uses in dentistry:
1. Antimicrobial -e.g. Matricaria chamomile,
Salvadora percica, Azadirachta indica.
2. Anti-inflammatory -e.g. Plumeria acuminate,
Kalanchoe Brasiliensis, Guaco, Propolis.
3. Sedative and Anxiolytics-e.g. Melissa
officinalis, Passiflora incarnale, Piper meythsticum
4. Miscellaneous - e.g.endodontic irrigants,
medicaments and in endodontic retreatment.

6. PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC
Substances in Endodontics
The main aim of an endodontic treatment is to remove the
diseased tissue, eliminate bacteria from the root canal system
and prevent its recontamination.
Irrigation is carried out to reduce the number of bacteria in the
root canal system and to control the periapical disease.
Herbal or natural products have also become more popular as
irrigation agent today due to their high antimicrobial activity,
biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.A
wide variety herbal products have been used in the past in
medicine

7. TRIPHALA
This is an ayurvedic rasayana consisting of
Amulaki (emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki
(terminaliabellirica) and Halituki (terminalia
chebula).
Its fruit is rich in citric acid, which may aid in
removal of smear layer thereby acting as chelating
agent.

8. Triphla

9. PROPOLIS
This is prepared from resins collected by bees
from trees of poplars and conifers or from flowers
of genera clusia. It also contains viscidone.
It is used as intracanal medicaments, root canal
irrigant and storage media for avulsed teeth to
maintain viability of periodontal ligament.

10. Propolis

11. AZADIRACHTA INDICA
It is known as Indian neem/margosa tree.
This product has been proved to be effective
against E-faecalis and candida albicans.
Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties makes
it a potential agent for root canal irrigation as an
alternative to sodium hypochlorite.

12. Neem

13. ORANGE OIL
It is oil produced by glands inside the rind of an
orange fruit. This is composed mostly of d-
limonene.
It also has long chain aliphatic hydrocarbon
alcohols, aldehydes like octanol and octanal.
It is suggested as an alternative to chloroform or
xylene for gutta-percha softening and also in
dissolving endodontic sealers.

14. Orange Oil

15. CARVACROL
It is commonly called as oregano.
Carvacrol is present in the essential oils of
origanum vulgare, oil of thyme, pepperwort,
bergamot and satureja khuzistanica jamsizad oil
(SKJ oil)
Carvacrol has inhibitory action on e-coli and p-
aeroginosa.

16. The cause of antimicrobial property is attributed to
action on several targets in bacterial cell and
disruption of bacterial cell membrane.
It also helps in repair of periapical tissues. This
property is due to the presence of phenolic
component which stimulates pulpal fibres,
phenomena known as hormesis.

17. Carvacrol oil

18. GREEN TEA
It is a tea made solely from the leaves of camellia
sinensis.
The antimicrobial activity is due to inhibition of
bacterial enzyme gyrase by binding to ATP B sub
unit.
Green tea exhibits antibacterial activity on
E-faecalis plaknotic cells. It is also found to be a
good chelating agent.

19. Green Tea

20. SALVADORA PERSICA
SOLUTION (MISWAK-SIWAK)
Its chewing sticks contain trimethyl amine,
salvadorime chloride and fluoride in large
amounts.
Fifteen percent alcoholic extracts of it has
maximum antimicrobial action.
It can be used as a substitute for sodium
hypochlorite and chlorexidine as root canal
irrigant.

21. Miswak stick

22. GERMAN CHAMOMILE
It is used as a table tea and flower of chamomile
plant contain a wide variety of active chemical
components (chamazolene, capric acid and
caprylic acidchlorgenic acid).
It is used for removal of smear layer and found to
be more effective than NaOCl.

23. German chamomile

24. TEA TREE OIL
This is a native Australian plant with
terpenin- 4-ol as a major component, responsible
for antibacterial and anti fungal properties.
It is used as root canal irrigant, but less effective
compared to EDTA and NaOCl.

25. Tea Tree oil

26. CASEARIA SYLVESTRIS
It is commonly called as wild sage.
It is more common in tropical America and Brazil.
Alcoholic extract of c.sylvestris constitutes a rich
source of phospholipase A2 inhibitors which reduce
the acute phase of inflammatory process and
prolongs the regenerative phase.
It is shown as an alternative intra canal medicament.

27. casearia sylvestris

28. GARLIC (ALLIUM
SATIVUM)
The main active component of garlic is allicin. It is
antibacterial and has immune regulatory functions.
Allicin destroys cell wall and cell membrane of root
canal bacteria. This is used as irrigant alternative
to NaOCl.

29. garlic /allium sativum

30. ARTICUM LAPPA
It is commonly called as Jungli kith or greater
burdock.
This is prepared from ethyl acetate and is used as
intra canal dressing with limited activity.

31. Articum Lappa

32. LEMON SOLUTION
Lemon solution (pH2.21) is a natural source of
citric acid (pH1.68) with lower acidity.
Citric acid, a chemical product has some irritating
effect compared to natural lemon solution.
Fresh lemon solution is used as root canal
medicament because of its wide antibacterial
efficiency including E- faecalis.

33. Lemon solution

34. RHUS PLANTS
It contains gallic tannins and gallic acid.
Tannins exhibit antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Gallic acid is antioxidant and bactericidal.
Gallic acid has been found to reduce periapical
inflammation.
Water extract of RHUS plants help in opening of
blocked dentinal tubules.

35. Rahus Plant

36. JIEERYIN SOLUTION
This is a pure Chinese herbal compound and has heat
clearing, detoxifying, antibacterial and anti-
inflammatory effects.
It is used for root canal irrigation with ultrasonics and is
found to be effective against anaerobic bacteria.
30% concentration of this has similar effect to that of
NaOCl(

37. Jieeriyan

38. ALOE VERA GEL
Aloe leaves contain clear gel and green part of the
leaf that surrounds the gel is used to produce juice or
dried substance.
It contains alloins and barbadoins as main chemical
constituents. Aloe Vera gel has inhibitory effects on
S-pyogens and E- faecalis because of anthra quinine.
Its bactericidal activity is found to be less than
Ca(OH)2 .

39. Aloe vera gel

40. PSORALEA
CORYLIFOLIA
It is commonly called as Babchi.
This is found to be effective against E-faecalis.
It acts by causing injury to cell membrane and
inhibiting DNA polymerase.

41. psorelea corylifolia

42. PSIDIUM GUAJAVA
It is commonly called as Guava
The fruits and leaves of this shrub contain
essential oil rich in cineol, tannins, tripentnes and
flavinoids.
Ethanol extracts of it has higher antimicrobial
activity, especially against E-faecalis.

43. Guava

44. ACACIA NILOTICA
It is commonly called as Babool.
It is species of Indian and Africans sub continent.
Antimicrobial function is believed to be due to
tannins, phenolics compounds, essential oil and
flavinoids and is effective against E-faecalis.

45. acacia nilotica

46. SYZIGIUM
AROMATICUM/CLOVE
TREE
It is commonly called as Clove.
Essential oil shows antioxidant, antibacterial and
anodyne effects.
Clove oil is widely used in dentistry since ages.

47. clove tree

48. TURMERIC
Curcumin, a member of a ginger family possesses anti
inflammatory , anti oxidant , anti microbial and anti cancer
activity
In an in vitro study, it has been shown that curcumin has
significant anti bacterial activity against E.faecalis and can be
used as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite for root canal
irrigation.
Massing the aching teeth with ground turmeric eliminates
pain and swelling.

49. Turmeric

50. SAFETY
Herbal products are normally considered safe. The
literature has revealed few reports concerning the
adverse effects of these natural products
commonly used in endodontics.
some of the common side effect of some herbals
are listed as follows ..

52. Drug (Phyto-therapeutic)
Interaction
Interaction
There is little available information regarding drug
interactions between herbal products and the
conventional drugs.
Not so many cases are reported related to drug
interaction.

55. Conclusion
The major advantages of herbal irrigants are safety,
easy availability, increased shelf life, cost
effectiveness and lack of microbial resistance so far.
The in vitro studies conducted so far have shown that
herbs can have a promising role as root canal
irrigants. However, further clinical trials and
investigations are required to be considered as
effective alternatives to the synthetic root canal
irrigants.

56. “Thank You.”