EVALUATION OF EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROSCOE (GINGER) ON ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN ADULT ALBINO RATS

 Objective: Zingiber officinale (ZO) Roscoe (Ginger) is known to have many medicinal properties. The present study was carried out to evaluate theanti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of ginger in adult albino rats, both in acute and chronic inflammatory settings and to compare the samewith standard anti-inflammatory agent diclofenac sodium.Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of ginger at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight administered orally was evaluated in adult albino rats dividedinto different groups as control, test and standard. Effect of ginger on acute inflammation was evaluated by carrageenan in induced rat paw edemamethod and chronic inflammation was evaluated by rexin pellet granuloma method. Histopathological analysis was also done to evaluate effect ofginger on leukocyte migration and lymphocyte accumulation at the site of acute and chronic inflammation respectively.Results: Aqueous extract of ginger decreased the signs of both acute and chronic inflammation. The percent inhibition of edema (for acuteinflammation) with ZO extract was 28.80%, whereas with diclofenac sodium 63.46%. Percentage inhibition of granulation tissue (for chronicinflammation) for ginger was 31.04% and 63.42% for diclofenac sodium.Conclusion: Aqueous extract of ginger decreased the signs of both acute and chronic inflammation and was comparable to standard anti-inflammatorydrug diclofenac sodium. As currently available anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with number of side-effects, ginger can be potentially exploredas an anti-inflammatory agent with minimal or no side-effects.Keywords: Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Ginger, Acute inflammation, Chronic inflammation, Rat paw oedema, Rexin pellet granuloma, Diclofenac sodium

Zirconia: Substitute for Metal Ceramics

In the search for the ultimate esthetic restorative material, many all-ceramic systems have been proposed. Dental research is nowadays directed toward metal-free prosthetic restorations in order to improve an esthetical outcome of crown and bridge restorations. Zirconia is a polycrystalline ceramic without a glassy phase and exists in several forms. Zirconia cores for fixed partial dentures (FPD) on anterior and posterior teeth and on implants are now available. This article is a review of zirconia crowns as replacement for conventional metal-ceramic crowns