Iranian Endodontic Journal

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this animal study was to promote East Java propolis as a potential natural intracanal medicament for periapical chronic apical periodontitis bone resorption through evaluating the expression of osteoprotegrin (OPG) and osteoclast level. Methods and Materials: Propolis extract was produced using a maceration procedure. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into three groups. In group I, the control group, the first upper right molar constituted a healthy tooth. In group II, containing rodents with experimentally chronic apical periodontitis, infection with Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212 10⁶ CFU was performed. In group III, the treatment group, after being injected with E faecalis, 10 µL propolis was applied. It required 21 days to induce post-pulp chronic apical periodontitis infection. The rats were euthanised for immunohistochemical examination in order to measure the expression of OPG and to count histologically the number of osteoclast. Result: The expression of OPG and osteoclast constituted 17.5±1.58 and 6.4±0.96 in group I, 10±2 and 16.2±1.31 in group II and 17±1.69 and 7.5±1.08 in group III. Group I presented the highest level of OPG expression but the lowest level of osteoclast expression. There were significant differences between groups II and III and group I regarding OPG and osteoclast expression (P<0.05). Conclusion: East Java Propolis was a potential intracanal medicament promoting an increase in osteoprotegerin expression and a decrease in the number of osteoclasts thereby inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.

Keywords: Chronic Apical Periodontitis; East Java Propolis; Intracanal Medicament