An Invitro Comparison of Dissolution of Human Pulp in Sodium Hypochlorite, Ethanolic Extract and Digestive Secretion of Insectivorous Plants

The tissue dissolution property of irrigating solutions is important for successful endodontic treatment. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a well-known tissue dissolvent, but no data have been published on herbal alternative to NaOCl. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pulp tissue dissolution capacity of sodium hypochlorite, ethanolic extract of Drosera rotundifolia and digestive fluid of Nepenthes khasiana. Freshly extracted intact vital teeth, extracted for orthodontic and impaction reasons were collected and stored at – 20 ˚C. The pulp tissues were removed by splitting of the teeth when required.

Method: The pulp tissues were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10), individual sample was weighed 7 mg each. The groups were as follows, Group I: 5% NaOCl, Group II: digestive fluid of Nepenthes khasiana, Group III: Drosera rotundifolia (ethanolic extract), Group IV: distilled water. The test solutions were added to tubes containing tissue samples, the tissues were removed from the test solutions at 5, 15, 20, 30 min, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 hr blotted dry with the tissue paper and weighed using precision balance.

Results: The results showed complete dissolution of pulp tissue in Group I at 20 minutes, Group II at 7 hr, Group III and IV showed no dissolution of pulp at the investigated time intervals.

Conclusion: The digestive fluid of Nepenthes khasiana could be considered as an herbal alternative to NaOCl for pulp tissue dissolution as it completely dissolved the pulp tissue similar to 5% NaOCl, but at different time intervals.