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Anticancer Activity of Miswak Root Extract in Breast Cancer Cell Line: HRLC-MS/MS Profiling, In Vitro Evaluation, and
Abrar Turki1, Md Abul Barkat2, Yasmin Basheer Ahmed1
1Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 15, 2026
Summary
The ethanolic root extract of Salvadora persica (Miswak) shows significant anticancer activity against human breast cancer cells. This natural compound induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, offering a promising alternative for breast cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in women, often exhibiting resistance to conventional therapies.
- Current treatments for breast cancer can lead to severe adverse effects, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anticancer potential of the ethanolic root extract of Salvadora persica (Miswak) against human breast cancer cells.
- To investigate the phytochemical composition and mechanism of action of S. persica extract in breast cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- In vitro cytotoxic assays (MTT) were performed on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) and normal Vero cells.
- Phytochemical profiling using HRLC-MS/MS characterized the bioactive constituents of the extract.
- In silico analyses, including molecular docking and pharmacokinetic predictions, were employed to assess target interactions and drug-like properties.
Main Results:
- The S. persica extract demonstrated significant, dose-dependent cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells, with minimal toxicity to normal cells.
- The extract induced apoptosis, evidenced by increased ROS production, MMP disruption, and nuclear condensation, along with S-phase cell cycle arrest.
- In silico studies revealed strong binding affinities of key phytoconstituents to breast cancer-associated targets (ERα, PR, EGFR, HER3, IGF-1R, GPER), suggesting a multi-targeted mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Salvadora persica extract possesses potent anticancer properties against breast cancer cells, mediated through apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest.
- The identified phytoconstituents exhibit favorable drug-like properties and interact with key cancer targets, supporting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent.
- These findings highlight the therapeutic promise of Miswak as a plant-derived candidate for breast cancer treatment.
