Uyumlu, Ayse BurcinYilmaz, Hatice CaglarSatilmis, BasriErdemoglu, Sema2024-08-042024-08-0420230250-46851303-829Xhttps://doi.org/10.1515/tjb-2022-0208https://hdl.handle.net/11616/101280Objectives: The purpose of the study was to prepare an effective and new drug delivery system for enhancing the stability of Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and its hepatoprotective effect in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced damage in hepatocellular carcinoma G2 (HepG2) cell line via nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) pathway.Methods: Gold nanoparticles were synthesized and then characterized by XRD, SEM, SEM-EDX analysis, hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential measurements. 1.0024 mM PEITC, a naturally occurring isothiocyanate, an active ingredient was loaded onto the characterized AuNPs. The cytotoxicity test of PEITC-AuNP and effects on ALT, AST, Nrf2 levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of CCI4-induced HepG2 cells were investigated.Results: PEITC-AuNPs and PEITC decreased ALT and AST levels (p < 0.05). This reduction was greater with PEITC-AuNPs. PEITC-AuNPs increased Nrf2 level but it was nonsignificantly (p > 0.05). PEITC didn't increase the Nrf2 level in CCI4-induced HepG2 cells. TAC of both PEITC-AuNPs and PEITC administration increased significantly compared with CCl4 group (p < 0.05). But PEITC-AuNPs enhanced the TAC level higher than PEITC significantly (p < 0.05).Conclusions: PEITC-AuNPs were more effective than PEITC which resulted in more hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects via Nrf2 activation against CCl4-induced liver injury in HepG2 cells.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCCl4gold nanoparticleHepG2 cellNrf2phenethyl isothiocyanateArticle481263110.1515/tjb-2022-02082-s2.0-85152008665Q4WOS:000906428100001Q4