Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Potential of Salvodora Persica

Abstract

Salvadora persica Miswak is a halophytic shrub renowned for its traditional medicinal uses, particularly in oral hygiene. This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of the ethanolic extract of the whole plant of S. persica. The extract was evaluated for its antibacterial and antifungal potential against a range of bacterial (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) and fungal strains using the disc and agar well diffusion methods, respectively. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA). The results exhibited significant, dose-dependent antimicrobial activity, with the extract showing greater efficacy against Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, with the inhibition zone of 31.0 mm at 300 mg mL^-1 extract concentration. It also showed notable inhibition against several fungal pathogens with a maximum inhibition zone of 32 mm for Candida albicans and Trichophyton longifusus at 300 mg mL^-1 concentration. Furthermore, the extract exhibited potent cytotoxicity in the BSLA, with a lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value of 10 µg mL^-1, indicating the presence of bioactive compounds with toxic potential. The findings confirmed that S. persica possesses substantial antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties, supporting its traditional use and suggesting its potential as a source for developing natural therapeutic agents.