Effect of Semelil, an Herbal Selenium-Based Medicine, on New Bone Formation in Calvarium of Rabbits

BACKGROUND: This study aims to analyze the effect of Semelil, an herbal selenium-based medicine, on osteogenesis in rabbit calvarium defects. METHODS: Four identical bony defects (8 mm) were created in the calvarium of 16 New Zealand male rabbits and filled randomly with xenogenic bone substitute material (Bio-Oss®) and semelil herbal drug (ANGIPARS™). One site was filled with Bio-Oss (B); the second site was treated with ANGIPARS (A); the third site was treated with ANGIPARS + Bio-Oss (AB); and the fourth site was left as untreated control (C) and defects were left unfilled. Rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (n = 8) and sacrificed at four and eight weeks. Percentage of new bone formation, type of the newly formed bone, percentage of the remaining xenograft biomaterial, and foreign body reaction (FBR) were evaluated via histological and histomorphometric analyses. RESULTS: The percentage of new bone formation was significantly different among four groups. The highest effect was observed in AB, followed by A, B, and C groups, respectively. The difference in the mean percentage of new bone formation between four and eight weeks was significant for all four groups (P < 0.001). Regarding bone formation, the interaction effect of A and B was significant at four (P < 0.001) and eight weeks (P = 0.002). ANGIPARS alone and in presence of Bio-Oss enhanced new bone formation at both four and eight weeks (P < 0.001). The mean amount of new bone formation was significantly different at four and eight weeks in groups C (P = 0.008), A (P < 0.001), B (P < 0.001), and AB (P = 0.003). FBR was not observed in any group. CONCLUSION: Semelil may be useful as an adjunct to conventional osteoconductive materials in order to enhance osteogenesis.