Effectiveness of Salvadora persica extracts against common oral pathogens

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanol and hexane extracts of Salvadora persica against common oral pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Well diffusion, Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Broth microdilution tests were used to determine the optimum antimicrobial concentrations of S. persica extracts against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sanguis (S. sanguis), and Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) over 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2% was used as a positive control. RESULTS: The findings showed that the microbial activity of both extracts was concentration-dependent. Ethanol extract of S. persica at 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml had more growth inhibitory effect against all isolates compared to hexane extract. In addition, ethanol extract at 8 mg/ml (MBC value) was able to eradicate the growth of all isolates. S. sanguis and S. salivarius were very sensitive to hexane extract and required 4 mg/ml (MBC value) for their eradication while S. mutans was the most resistant (MBC = 8 mg/ml).The statistical findings of CFU counts showed no significant difference (p = 1.000) in antibacterial effectiveness between the two extracts against all isolates. A significant decline overtime in CFU counts was noted, except at 12 h and 24 h where no significant difference (p = 0.793) was observed and was comparable to CHX. CONCLUSION: Ethanol and hexane extracts of S. persica were found to exhibit maximum antimicrobial activity against S. mutans, S. sanguis and S. salivarius at high concentrations.