Nabilla Syaidah Ageng Kuswandi, Gita Tarigan, Dicha Yuliadewi Rahmawati

Antibacteria Susceptibility Test of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Against Enterococcus faecalis As Root Canal Medicament

Introduction

Antibacteria susceptibility test of garlic (allium sativum l.) against enterococcus faecalis as root canal medicament. Investigate garlic extract's antibacterial effect on Enterococcus faecalis as a root canal medicament. In vitro study shows inhibition zones, with phenolics and flavonoids present.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of garlic extract (GE) on the inhibition of Enterococcus faecalis (EF) bacterial growth. This study is a laboratory experimental research with a true experimental post-test only control group design, conducted in vitro using the well diffusion method. The experimental group consists of EF bacteria treated with different concentrations of GE, while the control group consists of EF bacteria treated with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) as the positive control (PC) and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the negative control (NC). This study aims to observe the inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of bacterial growth after treatment with different concentrations of GE or control agents, measured in millimeters using a caliper. Phytochemical test revealed that the GE used in this study contains secondary metabolite compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, and steroids, resulting in an IZD of 5.85 ± 0.26 at 100% GE and 3.25 ± 0.27 at 75% GE. The IZD formed on PC was 17.34 ± 0.33, and no IZD was formed on 50% GE or NC. The effect of GE in inhibiting the growth of EF was observed by the presence of inhibition zones at 100% and 75% concentrations, although it was not yet able to match the effectiveness of 0.2% CHX.

Review

This study investigates the antibacterial susceptibility of garlic extract (GE) against *Enterococcus faecalis* (*EF*), a common bacterium found in persistent root canal infections, positioning GE as a potential alternative root canal medicament. The research employs a laboratory experimental design, specifically a true experimental post-test only control group design conducted *in vitro* using the well diffusion method. The clear objective of evaluating GE's inhibitory effect against *EF* and comparing it to established controls like 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing search for natural and effective endodontic solutions. The methodology accurately outlines the experimental setup, involving the measurement of inhibition zone diameters (IZD) in millimeters. A significant strength of this study is the inclusion of a phytochemical test, which identified secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, and steroids in the GE, providing a biochemical basis for its observed antimicrobial activity. The results indicate that GE exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition, with IZDs of 5.85 ± 0.26 mm at 100% concentration and 3.25 ± 0.27 mm at 75% concentration. Notably, no inhibition was observed at 50% GE or with the negative control (DMSO). While these findings demonstrate GE's antibacterial potential, the effectiveness was considerably lower than that of the positive control, 0.2% CHX, which produced a substantially larger IZD of 17.34 ± 0.33 mm. Overall, this study successfully demonstrates the *in vitro* antibacterial activity of garlic extract against *Enterococcus faecalis*, particularly at higher concentrations, and links this activity to its phytochemical composition. While the findings are promising, the observed efficacy of GE did not match that of the established gold standard, 0.2% CHX. Future research should focus on optimizing GE concentrations, exploring potential synergistic effects with other agents, and perhaps fractionating the extract to isolate and concentrate the most active compounds. Furthermore, progressing to *ex vivo* and *in vivo* studies would be crucial to assess its effectiveness within the complex root canal environment and to evaluate its biocompatibility and cytotoxicity before considering clinical application.

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