Miswak (the root and branches of Salvadora persica) decoction was traditionally implicated as possessing analgesic activities against some form of dental pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether miswak decoction has an analgesic effect and to describe the antinociceptive profile of miswak. Three analgesic tests (hot plate, writing reflex, and tail flick) were used. Miswak decoction was injected intraperitoneally into MFI mice in dose volumes of 0.3 - 12.5 ml/kg 15 min. before the analgesic tests. Results showed that miswak decoction lowers mice's response to chemical and thermal stimuli in dose dependent manner. The effective dose 50 (ED50) were 3.5, 0.45, and 5.5 ml/kg for hot plate, tail flick, and writhing reflex tests, respectively. The analgesic effects of miswak decoction in the three tests were antagonized by prior treatment by Naloxone (0.4 mg/kg). It was concluded that miswak has an analgesic effect which is apparently mediated via interaction with central and/or peripheral opiated pathway.

Saudi Dental Journal 1996;8(3):140-144.