Melilotus indicus is used for food and medicinal purposes. The present study aimed to explore its phytochemicals and antidiabetic and anti-obesity potential. Methanolic extract (ME) of the dried, ground herb, obtained by the Soxhlet method, was fractionated into hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, 1butanolic and aqueous fractions. Chromatographic techniques were used for further fractionation. The compounds identified by GC-MS included 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, 3-hydroxyspirost-8en-11-one, 1-phenanthrenecarboxylic acid-tetradecahydro-7-(2methoxy-2-oxoethylidene)-1,4a,8-triethyl-9-oxo-methylester, 3-(1-methylhept-1-enyl)-5-methyl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, squalene, phytol, 4-(4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0] hept-1-yl-3-buten-2-one, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, geranyl isovalerate and thymol. The ME and its fractions displayed porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitory activity higher than Acarbose. Interestingly, they promoted the lipase activity showing opposite trend to that Orlistat. The plant may be used to control diabetes and in the in the promotion of lipase action.

This study aims at reporting the indigenous knowledge of the medicinal flora from the inhabitants of surroundings of the World’s largest artificial planted forest “Changa Manga”, Pakistan. Data were collected by direct interviews and group meetings from 81 inhabitants including 32 local healers having information regarding the use of indigenous medicinal plants over a period of one year. Different statistical tools were applied to analyze the data including Frequency citation (FC), Relative frequency citation (RFC), Use Value, Factor of informants consensus and fidelity level. This study reported 73 plant species belonging to 37 plant families and 46 genera. The majority of plant species belong to compositae family. The most commonly used medicinal plants were P. hysterophorus L., P. dactylifera L., S. indicum L, P. harmala L., P. emblica L., and A. indica A.Juss. The greatest number of species was used to cure gastrointestinal disorders. The highest fidelity level (68.18%) was of E. helioscopia to cure gastrointestinal disorders. Maximum fresh uses (17) were reported by C. dactylon (L.) Pars. While the highest number of species reporting fresh uses in similar number was 13. In this study, five novel plants are being reported for the first time in Pakistan for their ethnomedicinal worth. Our data reflect unique usage of the medicinal plants in the study area. The statistical tools used in the study proved useful in pointing the most important and disease category specific plants. High use value plant and the new reported medicinal plants might prove an important source of the isolation of pharmacologically active compounds.

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Ceramic brackets were introduced because of increasing aesthetic demands. Objective: The purpose of the present research was to find out and do comparison of the shear bond strength and bond failure location of clarity ceramic and Transcend brackets. Setting: This comparative study was conducted at department of Orthodontics, de'Montmorency College of dentistry, Lahore. Methodology: Fifty brackets of each type were bonded to 100 extracted first premolar teeth with the similar bonding system. Each bracket type was tested on a Schimadzu testing machine to investigate the debonding force levels. Optical stereo microscope was used to evaluate the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). Conclusion: It was concluded that Shear bond strength and ARI scores differences between the Clarity and Transcend ceramic brackets are insignificant.