Toothbrush Tree
General Information

Salvadora persica L.

Family Salvadoraceae (Brassicales order)

Traditional use Chewing stick

Part used Stem and root

Preparation Moistened with water, rose water or saliva. The stick is then used to clean the teeth and gums.

Research

There have been numerous studies into S. persica L.’s bio activity in a number of areas including antimicrobial, antifungal and antitumor.

Extracts have shown activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

An ethanolic extract of S. persica L. leaf demonstrated antifungal activity against both Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger.

In vitro studies showed S. persica L. and green tea aqueous extracts exhibited synergistic anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.



Active compound(s)

salvadoricine; salvadoside; benzyl isothiocyanate