Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic Potential and Cytotoxic Activity of Salvadora persica: A Review

Salvadora persica is a popular teeth cleaning stick throughout the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the wider Muslim world. Also commonly referred to as miswak. S. persica exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against both aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria collected from teeth by different researchers in the various parts of world. Dental plaque is a general term used for the diverse microbial community (predominantly bacteria) found on the tooth surface, embedded in a matrix of polymers of bacterial and salivary origin. Plaque develops naturally on teeth, and forms part of the defense systems of the host by helping to prevent colonization of enamel by exogenous (and often pathogenic) microorganisms (colonization resistance). S. persica is found to be a multipurpose plant and possesses several agro-pharmaceutical applications. Toothbrushes prepared from the roots and small branches of S. persica, to be highly useful as maintainer of teeth. Plant possess anti-microbial, anti-plaque, aphrodisiac, alexiteric, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, astringent, diuretic and bitter stomachic activities. It has great medicinal use in the treatment of nose troubles, piles, scabies, leucoderma, scurvy, gonorrhea, boils and toothache, to treat hook worm, venereal diseases, for teeth cleaning, in rheumatism, cough and asthma, to lower cholesterol plasma levels, reestablishment of the components of gastric mucosa, and as a laxative.