Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the biocompatibility of two experimental intracanal medications containing calcium hydroxide and aloe vera in the subcutaneous tissue of rats.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted on fifteen male rats. Two incisions were performed on the dorsal region of each animal for the introduction of four sterile polyethylene tubes. One tube was empty (NC), one was filled with zinc oxide-eugenol cement (PC), one was filled with experimental medication 1 (CH/Aloe gel) and the last tube was filled with experimental medication 2 (CH/Aloe power). In sequence, the incisions were closed with Nylon 5-0 sutures. After 7, 14 and 30 days, the animals were euthanized and the specimens were submitted to histo-technical preparation. The histological sections were analyzed by light microscopy and scores were established according to the inflammatory process. The data were statistically compared using Kruskal-Wallis’ test and Dunn’s post-test test (p<0.05).
Result: The analysis of the histological sections indicated moderate to severe inflammatory reactions in the connective tissue in contact with CH/Aloe gel at 7 and 14 days and mild to moderate reactions at 30 days (p>0.05). The tissue in contact with CH/Aloe power exhibited moderate to a severe inflammatory reaction in all study periods. The statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between both experimental medications and negative control (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The experimental pastes were not biocompatible with the tissue and new formulations with changes of components and their concentrations must be performed to justify the use of Aloe vera in calcium hydroxide pastes.

Keywords:Aloe; Biocompatible materials; Calcium hydroxide