Neuroprotective and Anti-Intestinal Damaging Effect With Subsequent Improved Body Performance of Incorporated Soybean-Based Food on Carbon Tetrachloride–Induced Experimental Toxicity

Abstract Recently, a growing body of evidence has suggested a clear association between toxic substances in the environment and the incidence of numerous diseases and fatalities. CCl4 is frequently utilized in experimental models of rats. While CCl4 is mainly toxic to the liver, it also influences the brain, kidney, and intestines. Soybean, on the other hand, has varying therapeutic potentials. This evidence aimed to enlighten the therapeutic efficacy of soybean against CCl4-induced neurointestinal toxicity in male rats. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were evenly graded into four isolated groups: control nontreated group, CCl4-injected group, CCl4 + 10% dietary soybean group, and CCl4 + 30% dietary soybean group. Standard spectrophotometric techniques were effectively utilized for the biochemical protein assay, alongside cross-sectional procedures employing various stains to identify histomorphological changes. The serum protein profile, including total protein and albumin levels, exhibited significant alterations due to CCl4 exposure, whereas soybean supplementation effectively reversed these parameters. A potential mechanism is proposed for soybean's protective effect against CCl4 toxicity in the brain and intestine of rats. The CCl4-exposed rats exhibited scattered histological damage expressed by significant necrosis, pronounced fibrosis, inflammation, and degeneration in these organs. However, in soybean-treated groups, the findings confirmed the protective and therapeutic role of soybean against the CCl4-induced neurointestinal damage. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that dietary soybean could serve as a potential therapeutic food against neurointestinal toxicity caused by CCl4.