Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the globally worst killer diseases. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity and antioxidant capacity were determined and the phytochemical analyses were carried out on flower extract and sub-extracts of Rhaponticoides iconiensis. The in vitro antidiabetic activity was tested with α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition methods and an in vivo OGTT test in healthy and alloxan-induced rats. Although, the antioxidant activity was investigated with DPPH^●, ABTS^●+ and FRAP tests, the phytochemical composition analysis was carried out by LC-MS/MS. The highest α-glucosidase and α-amylase activity even from positive control acarbose were found in the ethyl acetate sub-extract of R. iconiensis (IC₅₀ = 11.737 ± 0.823 µg/mL and 84.247 ± 0.721 µg/mL, respectively). This sub-extract also was active according to the results of in vivo tests. Moreover, the highest antioxidant activity on DPPH^● (IC₅₀ = 0.126 ± 0.002 mg/mL), FRAP (at a concentration of 1 mg/mL equivalent to 3112.052 ± 2.023 mmol Fe²⁺) and ABTS^+● (at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL equivalent to 0.608 ± 0.005 µM Trolox) tests. In addition, LC-MS/MS analyses of the active sub-extract revealed mainly the presence of patuletin, patuletin 3,7-diglucoside, naringin and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid detected in the active sub-extract. In silico molecular docking and dynamics simulations studies were performed on these compounds with α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes for protein–ligand interactions and stability.

First time in this study, neuroprotective or neurotoxic effects of Pseudevernia furfuracea and Usnea florida lichen extracts based silver decorated zinc oxide nanocomposites (Ag-ZnO NCs) were evaluated. The characteristic light absorption point of P. furfuracea and U. florida based Ag-ZnO NCs were observed at 339 nm and 361 nm; effective diameter was detected at 342 nm and 495 nm. According to SEM analysis, the diameter of P. furfuracea and U. florida extract based NCs were approximately 35 nm and 85 nm, respectively. When we examined the toxicity of SH-SY5Y against human neuroblastoma cells, it was observed that NCs have neurotoxic effects on a concentration of 100 μg/ml. In this study, it was predicted that P. furfuracea and U. florida extract based Ag-ZnO NCs could be used in cytotoxic studies by synthesizing them in a cheap, short time and with eco-friendly method.

Objectives: Autism is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder and recent studies showed that omega-3 or astaxanthin might reduce autistic symptoms due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we investigated the effects of omega-3 and astaxanthin on the VPA-induced autism model of rats.Material and Methods : Female Wistar albino pups (n = 40) were grouped as control, autistic, astaxanthin (2 mg/kg), omega-3 (200 mg/kg), and astaxanthin (2 mg/kg)+omega-3 (200 mg/kg). All groups except the control were prenatally exposed to VPA. Astaxanthin and omega-3 were orally administered from the postnatal day 41 to 68 and behavioral tests were performed between day 69 and 73. The rats were decapitated 24 h after the behavioral tests and hippocampal and prefrontal cytokines and 5-HT levels were analyzed by ELISA.Results: VPA rats have increased grooming behavior while decreased sociability (SI), social preference index (SPI), discrimination index (DI), and prepulse inhibition (PPI) compared to control. Additionally, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels increased while IL-10 and 5-HT levels decreased in both brain regions. Astaxanthin treatment raised SI, SPI, DI, PPI, and prefrontal IL-10 levels. It also raised 5-HT levels and decreased IL-6 levels in both brain regions. Omega-3 and astaxanthin + omega-3 increased the SI, SPI, DI, and PPI and decreased grooming behavior. Moreover, they increased IL-10 and 5-HT levels whereas decreased IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ levels in both brain regions.Conclusions: Our results showed that VPA administration mimicked the behavioral and molecular changes of autism in rats. Single and combined administration of astaxanthin and omega-3 improved the autistic-like behavioral and molecular changes in the VPA model of rats.