Investigation of the Antioxidant and Cellular Toxicity Activities of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized Using <i>Cichorium intybus</i> Extract on a Liver Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

Background: Liver cancer is increasing in different parts of the world and is the fourth leading cause of cancer death globally. Objectives: The present study aims to synthesize and analyze the characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized by Cichorium intybus extract and evaluate their antioxidant and cellular toxicity activity against liver cancer cells (HepG2). Methods: The synthesized AuNPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antioxidant activity of the nanoparticles was assessed using the DPPH test, and their cytotoxicity activity was analyzed using the MTT method. Results: The results indicate that the AuNPs are crystalline materials with a particle size of less than 100 nm, with a mean particle size of 23.94 nm. The FTIR study reveals the presence of biochemical groups that act as reducing factors. The results demonstrate that antioxidant activity increases with concentration, with 87% inhibition of DPPH free radical scavenging observed at 250 µg/mL. Cell toxicity results in liver cancer cell lines (HepG2) demonstrated significant cytotoxicity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The percentage of cell viability at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml after 24, 48, and 72 hours was determined to be 45%, 51%, and 22%, respectively. Conclusions: The present study revealed the simple cost-effective and environmentally friendly method that could be employed from food to pharmaceutical industries.