Aim: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the in vitro toxicity of propolis with other primary teeth pulpotomy medicaments.
Methods: Human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells were subjected to different concentrations of propolis, formocresol, ferric sulfate, and gray mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (0.05, 0.5, 5, 50, and 100 μg/mL) for 24 h at 37°C. Cells that were not exposed to the tested materials served as the negative control. In vitro toxicity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Statistical analysis of the data was accomplished using anova and Tukey statistical tests (P < 0.05).
Results: Only propolis and gray MTA had comparable cell viability to the negative control group. Almost all remaining concentrations of tested materials were significantly inferior to the negative control after 24 h of exposure (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Propolis and MTA are more biocompatible than formocresol and ferric sulfate since they were both able to preserve PDL fibroblasts for up to 24 h.
Keywords: fibroblasts; formocresol; mineral trioxide aggregate; propolis; pulpotomy.
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