Table 3.

Methodology assessment.

Author and year	Microbial inoculation	Root canal preparation (instruments used and size of preparation)	Irrigation protocol	Volume of irrigant	Time of irrigation	Needle used for irrigation	Irrigant activation devices used
Ok et al. 2015 [5]	E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) cultured in a BHI agar suspension adjusted to 1 × 108 CFU	ProTaper NiTi rotary files 30.06% taper	No protocol mentioned	6 ml of each irrigant	2 min	Not mentioned in the study	Nil
Pujar et al. 2011 [11]	E. faecalis cultured in a BHI agar (strain not mentioned)	Step back upto 40 K file	No protocol mentioned	3 ml of each irrigant	10 mins	Not mentioned in the study	Nil
Choudhary et al. 2018 [12]	E. faecalis (MTCC 2729) and C. albicans (MTCC 1637) in a BHI agar is inoculated in 5 mL of suspension to obtain 1 : 1010 dilution	Step back upto 40 K file	During canal preparation, 3 mL of respective irrigant was used for 15 mins after enlargement, 2 mL of irrigant solution was used to rinse debris in the canals for another 5 min. Sterile normal saline (2 mL) was used as a final rinse	5 ml of each irrigant	20 mins	30-gauge needle	Nil
Sedigh-Shams et al. 2015 [13]	C. albicans in sabouraud dextrose agar suspensions adjusted to 1.5 × 108 CFU	ProTaper NiTi rotary files 30.06% taper	During canal preparation, 10 ml of respective irrigants were used. Groups 1 and 2 were irrigated with 2 ml of sterile distilled water to remove the remaining Z. multiflora EO. Group 3 were irrigated with 2 ml of 4% sterile sodium thiosulfate solution to neutralize the remaining NaOCl	10 ml of each irrigant	12–14 mins	27-gauge needle	Nil
Rosaline et al. 2013 [14]	E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) cultured in tryptone bile X-glucuronide agar suspensions adjusted to 1 × 106 cells/ml	Not mentioned in the study	All the specimens were treated with 5.25% NaOCl for 30 min followed by 5 mmol/L 17% EDTA for 5 mins. After which, the final irrigants were used	Not mentioned about the volume of final rinse	Final irrigation for 30 mins	Not mentioned in study	Nil
Gupta–Wadhwa et al. 2016 [15]	E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) suspensions adjusted to 1.5 × 108 CFU	ProTaper NiTi rotary files 30.06% taper	Initially, 2 mL of experimental extract for 30 s; during instrumentation, the canal was irrigated with 2 mL of the tested extract. After instrumentation experimental, extract was left undisturbed for 60 s and then finally irrigated with 2 mL of 3% NaOCl followed by 5 mL of 17% EDTA for 1 min and again with 2 mL of experimental extract	20 ml used in each canal	6mins 30 s approx.	30-gauge needle	Nil
Sharifian et al. 2009 [16]	E. faecalis (ATCC 29212)	Specimens enlarged low-speed round burs of ISO sizes 025, 027, 029, 031, and 033	No protocol was mentioned	Not mentioned	20 mins contact time of irrigant	Not mentioned	Nil
Divia et al. 2018 [17]	E. faecalis (ATCC 29212)	Step back upto 50 k file	No protocol was mentioned	Not mentioned	Not mentioned	Not mentioned	Nil
Kumar et al. 2018 [18]	E. faecalis (strain not mentioned)	Step back up to 30K size	No protocol was mentioned	6 ml of irrigants	At the rate of 2 ml/15 seconds	25-gauge needle	Nil