The Effect of Moringa oleifera's antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Staphylococcus aureus: a laboratory experiment

Abstract

Introduction: Fusobacterium nucleatum and Staphylococcus aureus, both associated with pulp and periapical diseases, must be effectively eliminated during irrigation. Natural agents are generally more biocompatible and less harmful to bodily tissues, making them a promising alternative to chemical irrigants such as sodium hypochlorite. Fractions of Moringa oleifera have demonstrated potential as an alternative irrigant due to their antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of Moringa oleifera fractions against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: The tube dilution method was used for antibacterial tests, while the biofilm assay method measured the optical density (OD) in a 96-well plate to evaluate antibiofilm effects. Moringa oleifera fractions were tested at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% concentrations. A one-way ANOVA test was applied for normally distributed data, and the Kruskal Wallis test was used for non-normally distributed data. Post-hoc analyses were conducted to determine significant differences between groups, with the significance level set at 0.05. Results: The antibacterial test revealed statistically significant differences between Moringa oleifera groups in eliminating Fusobacterium nucleatum (p = 0.003, p < 0.05) and Staphylococcus aureus with p value (p = 0.001, p < 0.05). The antibiofilm test also showed statistically significant differences among the concentration groups for both bacteria. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the antibacterial and antibiofilm effectiveness of Moringa oleifera’s fractions against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Staphylococcus aureus, supporting its potential as an alternative irrigant.