Comparative In Vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of <i>Ganoderma lucidum–</i> and <i>Psidium guajava</i> –Loaded Drug Delivery Scaffolds Against <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> Biofilms

This in vitro study evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of novel herbal intracanal medicaments, specifically Ganoderma lucidum (GL) and Psidium guajava (PG) extracts, incorporated into Pluronic F127 drug delivery scaffolds, against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Biofilms were established on standardised dentine specimens and treated with herbal-loaded hydrogels, calcium hydroxide (CH), modified triple antibiotic paste (mTAP) or saline (control). Antibacterial activity was assessed via colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results revealed significant antibacterial effects in all medicated groups compared to control, with mTAP exhibiting the highest efficacy, followed by CH and PG. PG's performance was comparable to CH and superior to GL. The study supports the potential of PG and GL herbal-loaded scaffolds as alternative intracanal medicaments pending further in vivo research.