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Volume 27
Issue 13
10.3390/ijms27135751
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Anticancer Activity of Miswak Root Extract in Breast Cancer Cell Line: HRLC-MS/MS Profiling, In Vitro Evaluation, and In Silico Analysis

by
Abrar Turki
1,
Md. Abul Barkat
2,*,
Yasmin Basheer Ahmed
1,
Harshita Barkat
2,
Raghad Rashed Alotaibi
2,
Khursheed Ahmad
3,
Rumana Ahmad
4 and
Sahabjada Siddiqui
3,*
1
Clinical Nutrition Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafr Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow 226003, India
4
Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Lucknow 226003, India
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(13), 5751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135751 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 2 May 2026 / Revised: 3 June 2026 / Accepted: 19 June 2026 / Published: 25 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Studies of Natural Compounds and Plant Extracts—3rd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Breast cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in women and remains difficult to treat due to therapy resistance and the adverse effects associated with conventional chemotherapeutic regimens. In this study, the anticancer activity of the ethanolic root extract of Salvadora persica (S. persica), commonly known as Miswak, was evaluated in human breast cancer cells using a combination of in vitro assays, phytochemical profiling, and computational analyses. HRLC-MS/MS characterization revealed a wide range of bioactive constituents, including alkaloids, flavonoid derivatives, glucosinolates, and fatty acid–based molecules detected under both ionization modes. The extract exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with IC50 values of 144.1 and 176.3 µg/mL, respectively, as determined by the MTT assay, while exerting negligible toxicity toward normal Vero cells. Miswak extract enhanced intracellular ROS production, disruption of MMP, nuclear condensation, and increased apoptotic cell populations, along with S-phase cell cycle arrest, pointing toward activation of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. In silico docking results indicated that key phytoconstituents exhibit strong binding interactions with multiple breast cancer–relevant targets such as ERα, PR, EGFR, HER3, IGF-1R, and GPER. Additionally, pharmacokinetic and toxicity predictions suggested favorable drug-like properties with minimal safety concerns. Thus, these findings support its potential as a promising plant-derived therapeutic candidate for breast cancer.
Keywords: Miswak root; HRLC-MS/MS characterization; anti-cancer potential; MCF-7 breast cancer cell line; computational analysis Miswak root; HRLC-MS/MS characterization; anti-cancer potential; MCF-7 breast cancer cell line; computational analysis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Turki, A.; Barkat, M.A.; Ahmed, Y.B.; Barkat, H.; Alotaibi, R.R.; Ahmad, K.; Ahmad, R.; Siddiqui, S. Anticancer Activity of Miswak Root Extract in Breast Cancer Cell Line: HRLC-MS/MS Profiling, In Vitro Evaluation, and In Silico Analysis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 5751. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135751

AMA Style

Turki A, Barkat MA, Ahmed YB, Barkat H, Alotaibi RR, Ahmad K, Ahmad R, Siddiqui S. Anticancer Activity of Miswak Root Extract in Breast Cancer Cell Line: HRLC-MS/MS Profiling, In Vitro Evaluation, and In Silico Analysis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(13):5751. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135751

Chicago/Turabian Style

Turki, Abrar, Md. Abul Barkat, Yasmin Basheer Ahmed, Harshita Barkat, Raghad Rashed Alotaibi, Khursheed Ahmad, Rumana Ahmad, and Sahabjada Siddiqui. 2026. "Anticancer Activity of Miswak Root Extract in Breast Cancer Cell Line: HRLC-MS/MS Profiling, In Vitro Evaluation, and In Silico Analysis" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 13: 5751. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135751

APA Style

Turki, A., Barkat, M. A., Ahmed, Y. B., Barkat, H., Alotaibi, R. R., Ahmad, K., Ahmad, R., & Siddiqui, S. (2026). Anticancer Activity of Miswak Root Extract in Breast Cancer Cell Line: HRLC-MS/MS Profiling, In Vitro Evaluation, and In Silico Analysis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(13), 5751. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27135751

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