Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick

Abstract Background Salix subserrata is one of the traditional chewing sticks used commonly in Ethiopia. It is also used traditionally against rabies and other infections. There has been no comprehensive research on the biological activity of this plant to demonstrate its role in maintaining oral he...

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Main Authors: Fekade Beshah Tessema, Tilahun Belayneh Asfaw, Mesfin Getachew Tadesse, Rakesh Kumar Bachheti, Yilma Hunde Gonfa, Dawit Sitotaw Addisie, Terefe Gebremariam Aregahegn, Tigist Getachew Tadesse, Megersa Aboneh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04854-6
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author Fekade Beshah Tessema
Tilahun Belayneh Asfaw
Mesfin Getachew Tadesse
Rakesh Kumar Bachheti
Yilma Hunde Gonfa
Dawit Sitotaw Addisie
Terefe Gebremariam Aregahegn
Tigist Getachew Tadesse
Megersa Aboneh
author_facet Fekade Beshah Tessema
Tilahun Belayneh Asfaw
Mesfin Getachew Tadesse
Rakesh Kumar Bachheti
Yilma Hunde Gonfa
Dawit Sitotaw Addisie
Terefe Gebremariam Aregahegn
Tigist Getachew Tadesse
Megersa Aboneh
author_sort Fekade Beshah Tessema
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Salix subserrata is one of the traditional chewing sticks used commonly in Ethiopia. It is also used traditionally against rabies and other infections. There has been no comprehensive research on the biological activity of this plant to demonstrate its role in maintaining oral health. Given the compounds previously isolated from this species, this study aims to predict which extracts among the four solvents are responsible for promoting oral health. Method The phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of the leaves, stem, and stem bark extracted with four different solvents were evaluated using standard methods. The EC50 of the extracts was tested with the DPPH assay, and the silicon content of the stem was determined by a gravimetric method. The antibacterial activity was tested using an agar well diffusion method at different test concentrations of (mg/ml) crude extracts and MIC/MBC were determined using the microdilution method. Physicochemical and ADME properties were determined using the SwissADME online server. PASS online was used to predict biological activities related to the oral health of the compounds previously isolated from the plant. Results The antioxidant activity, in terms of EC50, of the leaves of S. subserrata was comparable to that of the standard reference, ascorbic acid. The silicon content in the stem extract of the plant was found to be 0.24%. The leaves of S. subserrata exhibited higher levels of total phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to other parts of the plant. Hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts of S. subserrata were found to be active against the Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis) which are known to be responsible for foodborne infections. Among the previously reported compounds from S. subserrata, catechin, quercetin, saligenin, catechol, gallocatechin, salicin, and triandrin were found to be predicted for the strong antioxidant, anti-infection, and anti-mucositis activities. Conclusion All phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity results underscore the significance of plants traditionally used as chewing sticks. The roles of previously isolated compounds in maintaining oral health were also predicted, though toxicity tests and comprehensive profiling of the extracts necessitate further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-e641b8f60c2e469b830f40325049a3092025-08-20T03:40:48ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712025-03-0125111710.1186/s12906-025-04854-6Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stickFekade Beshah Tessema0Tilahun Belayneh Asfaw1Mesfin Getachew Tadesse2Rakesh Kumar Bachheti3Yilma Hunde Gonfa4Dawit Sitotaw Addisie5Terefe Gebremariam Aregahegn6Tigist Getachew Tadesse7Megersa Aboneh8Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Woldia UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Industrial Chemistry, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversityCentre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Science, Ambo UniversityDepartment of Industrial Chemistry, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Industrial Chemistry, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversityHealth Biotechnology Directorate, Bio and Emerging Technology InstituteAnimal Biotechnology Directorate, Bio and Emerging Technology InstituteAbstract Background Salix subserrata is one of the traditional chewing sticks used commonly in Ethiopia. It is also used traditionally against rabies and other infections. There has been no comprehensive research on the biological activity of this plant to demonstrate its role in maintaining oral health. Given the compounds previously isolated from this species, this study aims to predict which extracts among the four solvents are responsible for promoting oral health. Method The phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of the leaves, stem, and stem bark extracted with four different solvents were evaluated using standard methods. The EC50 of the extracts was tested with the DPPH assay, and the silicon content of the stem was determined by a gravimetric method. The antibacterial activity was tested using an agar well diffusion method at different test concentrations of (mg/ml) crude extracts and MIC/MBC were determined using the microdilution method. Physicochemical and ADME properties were determined using the SwissADME online server. PASS online was used to predict biological activities related to the oral health of the compounds previously isolated from the plant. Results The antioxidant activity, in terms of EC50, of the leaves of S. subserrata was comparable to that of the standard reference, ascorbic acid. The silicon content in the stem extract of the plant was found to be 0.24%. The leaves of S. subserrata exhibited higher levels of total phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to other parts of the plant. Hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts of S. subserrata were found to be active against the Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis) which are known to be responsible for foodborne infections. Among the previously reported compounds from S. subserrata, catechin, quercetin, saligenin, catechol, gallocatechin, salicin, and triandrin were found to be predicted for the strong antioxidant, anti-infection, and anti-mucositis activities. Conclusion All phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity results underscore the significance of plants traditionally used as chewing sticks. The roles of previously isolated compounds in maintaining oral health were also predicted, though toxicity tests and comprehensive profiling of the extracts necessitate further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04854-6Anti-infectiveAntioxidantExtractsOral healthSalix subserrata
spellingShingle Fekade Beshah Tessema
Tilahun Belayneh Asfaw
Mesfin Getachew Tadesse
Rakesh Kumar Bachheti
Yilma Hunde Gonfa
Dawit Sitotaw Addisie
Terefe Gebremariam Aregahegn
Tigist Getachew Tadesse
Megersa Aboneh
Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Anti-infective
Antioxidant
Extracts
Oral health
Salix subserrata
title Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
title_full Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
title_fullStr Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
title_full_unstemmed Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
title_short Exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd: unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
title_sort exploring antimicrobial properties and oral health benefits of salix subserrata willd unveiling the potential beyond its use as traditional chewing stick
topic Anti-infective
Antioxidant
Extracts
Oral health
Salix subserrata
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04854-6
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