Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial effect of the ethanolic extracts of Ruta graveolens (Rue) and Sal-via officinalis (Sage) in a concentration of 0.2% and compare the results with the same concentration of chlorhexidine 0.2% (CHX) and normal saline on root canal bacteria using the above plant extracts as an irrigating solutions clinically. Materials and Methods: Thirty five uniradicular teeth with necrotic pulps were chosen. The patients were divided randomly into four groups, 10 patients for groups I, II and III and 5 patients for group IV. Using 0.2% ethanolic extract of Sage, 0.2% ethanolic extract of Rue, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and normal saline, respectively. Samples were obtained from the canal at the beginning of the first and second appointments, at the end of the second appoint-ment and at the beginning of the third appointment using wet sterile paper points. Results: The results revealed that 0.2% of the ethanolic extract of both Sage and Rue have a significant antimicrobial effect when used clinically as an endodontic irrigant, and was significantly not different from 0.2% chlorhex-idine gluconate (CHX) and significantly different from normal saline. Conclusions: Rue and Sage demonstrated antimicrobial effects on the root canal bacteria (both aerobic and anaerobic) used as en-dodontic irrigants compared with CHX.
