Antimicrobial Action of Novel <i>Panax ginseng</i> Paste, Calcium Hydroxide and Bio-C Temp as an Intracanal Medicament Against <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> and <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>

Background: Intracanal medicaments are substances placed inside the root canal system during endodontic treatment to help achieve optimal healing and infection control. Their use is critical for managing infections, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue regeneration between appointments, especially when dealing with persistent microbial infections. Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial action of novel Panax ginseng paste, Calcium hydroxide and Bio-C temp as an Intracanal Medicament (ICM) against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans by Modified Direct Contact Test (DCT). Methods: Two bacterial strains were grouped into (A) Enterococcus faecalis and (B) Streptococcus mutans and subgrouped (n=7) as follows: A1 and B1- Control, A2 and B2- Calcium hydroxide, A3 and B3- Bio-C Temp, A4 and B4- Panax ginseng. The ICM were freshly prepared and coated on a fixed area of 96-well microtiter plates followed by the addition of the bacterial suspension. Antimicrobial action was evaluated by applying the Modified DCT. Results: In both groups, the order of bacterial load reduction was- Panax ginseng > Calcium hydroxide > Bio-C Temp > Control. A significant difference was observed in control groups compared with the three ICMs (P<0.05). Bio-C Temp exhibited a significantly lower reduction as compared to Calcium hydroxide and Panax ginseng in both groups (P<0.05). Panax ginseng exhibited better antimicrobial action than Ca(OH)2 in both the groups although it was not statistically significant. Intergroup comparison showed that all three ICMs led to more Mean Reduction (MR) in S. mutans than E. faecalis which was statistically significant in Calcium hydroxide and Panax ginseng groups. Conclusion: All three ICMs led to the reduction of both E. faecalis and S. mutans. Panax ginseng exhibited the best antimicrobial activity, and further research can be conducted on its biocompatibility on oral tissues for its application as a potential intracanal medicament.