This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of propolis-based toothpastes used as intracanal medication in endodontic treatment. The propolis-based toothpastes were prepared using an extract established in previous studies (identified as A70D and D70D). Calcium hydroxide paste was used as a control. The bacteria employed were Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Kocuria rhizophila (ATCC 9341), Escherichia coli (ATCC 10538), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Enterococcus hirae (ATCC 10541), Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175). Five field strains isolated from saliva were used: Staphylococcus spp. (23.1 - coagulase positive), Staphylococcus spp. (23.5 - coagulase negative), Staphylococcus spp. (26.1 - coagulase positive), Staphylococcus spp. (26.5 - coagulase negative) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (6epi). The diffusion-well method on double-layer agar was used in a culture medium of Tryptic Soy Agar. The plates were kept at room temperature for two hours to allow the diffusion of pastes in the culture medium, and then incubated at 35º C for twenty-four hours in aerobiosis and in microaerophilia (S. mutans). After this period, the total diameter of the inhibition halo was measured. The results were analyzed by ANOVA analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey test at p<0.05. The propolis-based toothpastes presented antibacterial activity against 83.3% of the analyzed bacteria. For 66.7% of these bacteria, the propolis-based toothpastes exhibited greater antibacterial activity than calcium hydroxide. The present results allow us to conclude that the experimental pastes A70D and D70D showed good activity against aerobic bacteria, proving more effective than calcium hydroxide.
Propolis; Tooth paste; Endodontics
