Treasure from trash - Is Ecoenzyme the new panacea in conservative dentistry and endodontics?

Context: Endodontic biofilm eradication is achieved by chemo-mechanical disinfection. The search for a safer, nontoxic irrigant led us to a natural product, Ecoenzyme.

Aim: This study aims to analyze Ecoenzyme (EE) and explore its antimicrobial and biofilm disrupting activity against a 1-week mature multi-species biofilm.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative assessment of the phytochemicals present in EE was conducted. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration, and zone of inhibition (ZOI) were recorded. Multi-species biofilm of (MTCC 497), (MTCC 10307), and (ATCC 29212) was grown and time-kill assay was performed to test biofilm disruption for EE, 3.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (control). Student's -test and one-way ANOVA with analysis were conducted for ZOI and time-kill assay, respectively. Statistical significance was set at ≤ 0.05.

Results: EE contained secondary metabolites having antibacterial properties. MIC was 25% (), 50% (), and >50% (). EE disrupted ~90% of biofilm species in 5 min of exposure while NaOCl achieved ~99.9% reduction. Further reduction by EE progressed over 20 min after which no viable bacteria in the biofilm was cultivable.

Conclusions: Lemon peel Ecoenzyme (EE) is antimicrobial with effective biofilm-disrupting properties on a mature multi-species biofilm. However, its effects were slower than 3.5% sodium hypochlorite.