Hypoglycemic effect of alcoholic extract of salvia nemorosa in normal and diabetic male rats

The use of medicinal plants has increased greatly mainly due to their easy availability, fewer side effects and lack of toxicity. The present study was carried out to investigate the antidiabetic effect of the extract of aerial parts of salvia nemorosa in normal and streptozotocin- induced diabetic male rats. After collection and taxonomic identification of plant, the ethanolic extract of Salvia nemorosa was prepared by the soxhlet apparatus. The animals were made diabetic by using 70 mg/kg streptozotocin injected intraperitoneally. The plant extract was administrated orally in doses of 0.01, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg to the normal and diabetic rats for 14 days. Two groups of normal and diabetic rats, which served as sham group, were administered distilled water. Blood samples were obtained from the hearts of all experimental animals after 14 days. Serum glucose and insulin were measured by glucose oxidase and radio immunoassay methods, respectively. Oral administration of the alcoholic extract of Salvia nemorosa significantly decreased serumic glucose [p < 0.001] and increased serumic insulin levels [p < 0.01] in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, but not in healthy rats. Furthermore, it increased weight in diabetic rats [p < 0.01]. The present data indicate that extract of Salvia nemorosa has hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats. This plant should be considered as a therapeutic option in future experimental researches for the management of Diabetes Mellitus in human

Fracture resistance of endodontically - treated premolars restored with pins and adhesive resin cement

This in vitro study compared the ability of horizontal pins and an adhesive resin cement to reinforce the facial cusp of endodontically treated maxillary premolars. Seventy-two maxillary premolars were divided into six groups and mounted in acrylic blocks [n=12]. In all of groups standardized endodontic treatment were completed. In groups 2-6 the palatal cusp were reduced, leaving the buccal cusp intact. In group 1 access cavity was filled with amalgam simply. The facial cusps of the teeth in other groups received one of the following reinforcements: Group 2- no reinforcement; Group 3- amalgam build up; Group 4- two horizontal dentinal pins; Group 5- Adhesive resin cement. Teeth in Group 6 were prepared for and restored with amalgam using two horizontal dentinal pins and adhesive resin cement. Then the lingual slope of the facial cusp of each specimen was loaded to failure using a compressive force. The mean fracture strengths for all groups were analyzed using statistical analysis. [a= 0.05]. Fracture patterns and modes of failure were also evaluated. The mean fracture values for groups were 1429.58; 701.80, 1242.50, 1298.63, 1289.25, 1311.83 kgf respectively. With the exception of group 1 [positive control group], group 6 were more fracture resistant than all other groups, and there were not significant difference between that group with groups 1 and 3-5. The buccal cusp of endodontically treated maxillary premolars whether reinforced with a horizontal pins or adhesive resin cement were not significantly weaker than conservatively restored teeth