Development and Characterization of Gutta-Percha Points from Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) Latex: A Preliminary Study

This is the first study to report the development and characterization of gutta-percha points fabricated from Jackfruit tree ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ) latex as an indigenous alternative to conventional gutta-percha (GP) for root canal obturation. Fresh latex blended with zinc oxide (4:6 ratio) was fabricated into hand-rolled points and characterized through radiopacity testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), micro-leakage analysis, and tensile strength evaluation. The points demonstrated natural radiopacity, eliminating the need for barium sulphate as a radiopacifying agent—a distinct advantage over commercial GP formulations that depend on heavy metal sulphate additives. SEM revealed relatively smooth surfaces with uniformly distributed 1 µm zinc oxide particles embedded throughout the latex matrix. AFM showed favorable surface characteristics with area roughness of 3.28 µm and line roughness of 2.29 µm, values comparable to commercially available GP products. Micro-leakage testing yielded variable results, with 40% of samples demonstrating excellent sealing capacity and no dye penetration at any root level. Tensile strength averaged 0.06 MPa, which, though lower than commercial gutta-percha (10–30 MPa), may facilitate better adaptation to complex root canal anatomy during lateral condensation. The inherent antibacterial bioactivity of jackfruit latex constituents, including artocarpin and phenolic compounds, further differentiates AH-GP from synthetic obturation materials. Jackfruit latex represents a promising, cost-effective, and sustainably sourced alternative particularly suitable for resource-limited tropical settings, warranting further formulation optimization and clinical validation.