title: Effects of extracts of Salvadora persica on proliferation and viability of human dental pulp stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Efficacy of an ideal antimicrobial agent depends on its ability to eliminate microorganisms while causing minimal toxicity to host cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ethanolic and water extracts of Salvadora persica (SP) on proliferation and viability of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this in-vitro study, the effects of seven concentrations of ethanolic and water extracts of SP (ranging from 5.75 mg/ml to 0.08 mg/ml) on hDPSCs were evaluated using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Water extract of SP only had cytotoxic effect at 5.75 mg/ml concentration; and caused significant cell proliferation at 1.43-0.08 mg/ml concentrations at 24 h (P < 0.05). At 48 h, only 0.17 and 0.08 mg/ml concentrations caused significant cell proliferation (P < 0.05). Ethanolic extract of SP at 5.75-1.43 mg/ml concentrations showed severe cytotoxic effects at 24 and 48 h. Other concentrations had no significant effects on cells (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The highest concentrations of both water and ethanolic extracts of SP had cytotoxic effects on hDPSCs. Water extract of SP has favorable effects on cell proliferation at specific concentrations in a time-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Biomaterials, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh Sadat
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Tabatabaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moezizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javand
keywords: Cytotoxicity; Salvadora persica; dental pulp stem cells; ethanolic extract; water extract