Volatile compounds in crude Salvadora persica extracts

Miswak is a widely used chewing stick in Middle Eastern and African cultures that is prepared from twigs and roots of the plant Salvadora persica L. It has been reported to inhibit dental diseases. Crude extracts of S. persica twigs and roots have demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial effects. The aim of the present study was to study the chemical composition of such extracts. Chloroform and ethanol Soxhlet extracts were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to identify volatile organic components. This study is the first to report the presence of oleic, linolic and stearic acids in this plant. This work has led to the identification of a variety of low molecular weight compounds most of which are simple secondary metabolites. Among the compounds identified are esters of fatty acids and of aromatic acids, and some terpenoids. Storage of S. persica twigs for two years prior to extraction did not seem to affect the result of the chemical analysis greatly.