Morinda citrifolia: A fruit to future endodontics

Abstract

The aim of this article is to review Morinda citrifolia in the field of endodontics. Herbal medicaments have been used as remedies for various illnesses and diseases for centuries. Furthermore, it has been a topic of interest in dentistry for many years. Morinda citrifolia juice (MCJ), also commonly known as “Noni,” a tropical fruit, has a wide range of uses in endodontics and in the eradication of endodontic pathogens without any potential side effects. A literature review is conducted using electronic databases, such as “PubMed,” “Google Scholar,” and “Scopus,” using keywords “Herbal Medicine” and “M. citrifolia.” Furthermore, an advanced or refined search was carried out using the keywords “Endodontics,” “Root canal Therapy,” “Irrigation,” “Herbal Endodontics,” and “Endodontic Disinfection.” The MCJ can be used as an endodontic irrigant along with ethylenediami-netetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an adjuvant to sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine (CHX) due to its better smear layer removal properties and antimicrobial activity. It also does not have any major side effects as compared with sodium hypochlorite and CHX. It also helps in caries prevention and control, which is the main crux for the requirement for endodontic treatment. Further studies on MCJ on the endodontic aspect of dentistry can alter the chemical aspect of endodontic therapy in the near future. The MCJ, due to its advantages compared with sodium hypochlorite and CHX, can be used in the field of endodontics.