Antibacterial Activity of Miswak Wood (Salvadora persica) Extracted Using Varius Solvents

Abstract

Nosocomial infections induced by medical interventions and pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli represent a substantial public health challenge in Indonesia. Miswak wood is used traditionally as a dental cleanser and its effect on various bacterial needs requires further exploration. This investigation assessed the antibacterial efficacy of Miswak Wood (Salvadora persica) extracted using various solvents (ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol) through maceration extraction techniques. This research constituted an in vitro experimental design that evaluated the inhibition zones produced by ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol extracts from miswak wood (Salvadora persica) at a concentration of 500 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The extraction process employed a kinetic maceration technique utilizing ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanol as solvents. The assessment of antibacterial activity was conducted using the disc diffusion methodology as established by Kirby and Bauer. The Mann-Whitney test was employed to determine significant differences between the bacteria. Subsequently Wilcoxon post-hoc pairwise tests were utilized to assess the significant effect of different solvents on each bacterium. A significance threshold of p < 0,05 was set for all analyses. The inhibition zone observed for Staphylococcus aureus with ethyl acetate solvent measured 11.85±0.92 mm; with n-butanol it was 9.07±1.07 mm; and with methanol it was 7.98±1.15 mm; conversely, for Escherichia coli, the results were 9.11±0.81 mm with ethyl acetate solvent; 0.00±0.00 mm with n-butanol; and 3.89±3.70 mm with methanol. The inhibition zone generated from the ethyl acetate extract exhibited the most pronounced antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.