Revisiting Herbal Endodontics: The Role of Propolis Against Enterococcus faecalis as an Intracanal Medicament — A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: Enterococcus faecalis is among the most commonly identified bacteria linked to recurrent endodontic infections and failures in root canal treatment. The capacity to endure extreme climatic conditions, infiltrate dentinal tubules, and establish resilient biofilms diminishes the efficacy of traditional intracanal medicaments such calcium hydroxide. Propolis, a natural resinous substance sourced from honeybees, has garnered interest in recent years due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antibiofilm characteristics. Aim: This systematic review sought to assess the antibacterial efficiency of propolis against Enterococcus faecalis when utilised as an intracanal medicament and to compare its effectiveness with traditional endodontic medicaments. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with PRISMA standards utilising the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases for publications published from 2006 to 2026. Studies assessing propolis as an intracanal medicament against E. faecalis were included. Information pertaining to study design, propolis formulation, comparison groups, microbiological evaluation techniques, and outcomes was retrieved and subjected to qualitative analysis. The assessment of bias risk was conducted based on methodological quality, randomisation, microbiological standardisation, blinding, and statistical analysis. Results: Thirteen studies were used into the…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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