The antibacterial activity of traditionally used <i>Salvadora Persica</i> L. (miswak) and <i>Commiphora Gileadensis</i> (palsam) in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Nowadays there is a need to find naturally occurring substances from plants with antimicrobial activity as an alternative to available used antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Salvadora persica (miswak) and Commiphora gileadensis were collected, dried and extracted with either methanol or warm water and the obtained extracts were assessed for their antibacterial activity against 5 different genera of bacteria using agar well diffusion method. The tested bacteria included some human pathogens. Results: The obtained extracts exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all the tested bacteria with various degrees of growth inhibition. It was shown that methanol extract was more effective compared to water extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the methanol extracts ranged from 50-100 µg/ml. No toxicity was found using Artimia salina as test organism and no antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Conclusion: S. persica and C. gileadensis showed moderate to high inhibitory activity on pathogenic bacteria with no toxicity and can be used traditionally as alternative medicine .

Antibacterial Activity of Salvadora persica L. (Miswak) Extracts against Multidrug Resistant Bacterial Clinical Isolates

“…In this study, the 400 mg/mL of miswak extracts was the most effective one on all pathogens and the methanol extract exhibited a stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-negative than Gram-positive bacteria. These results are in agreement with previous findings from other studies [ 10 , 11 , 13 , 16 , 17 ]. Contrary to these findings, Al-Bayati and Sulaiman investigated the aqueous and methanol extracts of Salvadora persica for antimicrobial activities against seven oral pathogens [ 12 ].…”

The Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effect of &lt;i&gt;Salvadora persica&lt;/i&gt; on Antibiotic Resistant Strains

“…Salvadora persica extract found to have better antibacterial activity than antibiotics to study, and these results are consistent with the results of other studies [14] [15]. Table 1.…”

A review on the pharmagnostic evaluation of Meswak, Salvadora persica

“…Medical books of ancient India, Susruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita, have also stressed on oral hygiene using herbal sticks, (Dahiya et al 2012). There are various biological properties, including signifi cant antibacterial, (Al-sieni et al 2013, Rasouli et al 2014 antifungal, (Almas et al 1999) and anti-plasmodial effects in the extract of miswak. During the 2nd century BC, the Greek sophist, Alciphron, recommended a toothpick to clean the ''fi brous residue'' that remained between the teeth after meals.…”