Abstract
Diseases and injuries impose oxidative stress on different organs and systems of the body. This study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of soy protein isolate against acute liver toxicity induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA). Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Groups A and B consumed a casein containing diet and the Group C received a soy protein isolate (SPI) containing diet for 18 days. Group A was then given an intra-peritoneal saline injection and continued on a casein diet for another 4 days before being killed. Each animal from groups B and C was given a single intra-peritoneal injection of DMNA (30 mg/kg) on the 18th day of the study. All groups continued their diets for 4 days before their sacrifice. The serum ALT decreased and albumin increased significantly in rats fed 20 % SPI containing diet (P < 0.05). Histological results showed that SPI improved DMNA-induced alteration in the liver structure. Morphological and biochemical data suggest that soy protein isolate containing diet decreased DMNA-induced liver damage.