title: Effectiveness ofSalvadora persicaextracts against common oral pathogens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanol and hexane extracts ofSalvadora persicaagainst common oral pathogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Well diffusion, Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Broth microdilution tests were used to determine the optimum antimicrobial concentrations ofS. persicaextracts againstStreptococcus mutans(S. mutans),Streptococcus sanguis(S. sanguis), andStreptococcus 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 ofS. persicaat 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. sanguisandS. salivariuswere very sensitive to hexane extract and required 4 mg/ml (MBC value) for their eradication whileS. mutanswas 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethanol and hexane extracts ofS. persicawere found to exhibit maximum antimicrobial activity againstS. mutans,S. sanguisandS. salivariusat high concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontics, Department of Restorative Dental Science, Dental Caries Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Balto
authors.affiliation: Former Dental intern, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Sanie
authors.affiliation: Teaching Assistant, Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Beshri
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthodontics, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aldrees
keywords: Antimicrobial; Salvadora persica; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus salivarius; Streptococcus sanguis