Abstract :

Herbals have been used for centuries to prevent and control disease. Herbal extracts are effective because they interact with specific chemical receptors within the body and are in a pharmacodynamic sense than drugs themselves so usage of herbal extract averte many patients from many side effects that generally come with traditional medicines. Propolis gained a popularity in the field of Dentistry because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, healing, anesthetic and cariostatic properties. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the histological response of a healthy rabbit pulp to direct pulp capping with propolis compared to calcium hydroxide. Twelve male rabbits were selected, their dental pulps were intentionally exposed by using low speed round bur on labial surfaces of permanent central incisors. Split mouth technique was used for applying the capping material to control and experimental groups. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups, four rabbits for each, where rabbits were sacrificed after 1, 2 and 4 weeks from capping time respectively. Teeth were dissected after animal scarification and prepared for histopathologic and histochemical evaluation using Hematoxylin_ Eosin (HE) and Trichrome stains. The results showed that 25%, 50% and 25% of dental pulps capped with calcium hydroxide showed mild, moderate and severe inflammatory response respectively, while in propolis group 75% and 25% showed slight to moderate inflammatory response respectively. As regard hard tissue formation in response to capping materials, in calcium hydroxide group half of the cases showed moderate deposition and other half showed marked hard tissue deposited at fourth week of follow up period. While in propolis group there was a marked deposition in 75% of cases and moderate deposition in 25% in the other. Conclusion propolis proved to have less intense inflammatory response and better quality dentin bridge formation.