Saltwater destroys aliens (6)
I believe the answer is:
saline
'saltwater' is the definition.
(I know that saline is a type of saltwater)
'destroys aliens' is the wordplay.
'destroys' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'destroyed' mean this).
'aliens' with letters rearranged gives 'SALINE'.
(Other definitions for saline that I've seen before include "Containing salt for aliens" , "Like contents of cellar" , "Containing or tasting of salt" , "Intravenous feeding" , "Containing salt or salts" .)