theasinensin-a and Hypertriglyceridemia

Fermented mixed tea made with third-crop green tea leaves and camellia leaves by a tea-rolling process has been developed. The objective of this study was to investigate hypotriglyceridemic potential of the mixed tea in rats. The mixed tea contained theasinensins and theaflavins. Rats fed the mixed tea extract at the level of 1% exerted significantly lower body weight and adipose tissue weight compared to animals fed third-crop green tea or camellia tea extract alone for 4 weeks. Serum and hepatic triglyceride was significantly and dose-dependently decreased by the mixed tea. This decrease was associated with lowered lipogenic enzyme activities in the liver. Furthermore, an oral administration of 4 or 8% of the mixed tea extract followed by fat emulsion suppressed the increment of serum triglyceride level. These results suggest that the mixed tea has hypotriglyceridemic action, partially via delaying triglyceride absorption in the small intestine and repressing hepatic lipogenic enzymes.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Benzopyrans; Biflavonoids; Camellia; Camellia sinensis; Catechin; Crops, Agricultural; Fermentation; Food Handling; Hypertriglyceridemia; Hypolipidemic Agents; Intestinal Absorption; Japan; Overweight; Phenols; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tea; Triglycerides

Although tea polyphenols are reported to improve serum glucose and lipid levels by inhibiting amylase activity and reducing lipid absorption, in vivo data are lacking. We evaluated in vivo the antihyperglycemic and hypotriacylglycerolemic effects of theaflavins (TFs) and theasinensin A (TSA) refined from fermented tea to purities of 12 and 59%, respectively. Feeding male KK-A(y) mice diets with 0.1% TFs or TSA for 6 weeks reduced serum glucose levels by >30% compared to a control diet. Rats fed diets containing 0.2% TFs or TSA for 4 weeks had higher fecal fat excretion and 33% lower hepatic triacylglycerol; hepatic fatty acid synthase activity was not affected. Oral administration of TFs or TSA reduced the increase in serum triacylglycerol after an oral bolus of a fat emulsion. These results indicate TFs and TSA induce antihyperglycemic responses in diabetic mice and are hypotriacylglycerolemic in rats by suppressing intestinal fat absorption.

Topics: Animals; Benzopyrans; Biflavonoids; Camellia sinensis; Catechin; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dietary Supplements; Eriobotrya; Fermentation; Gallic Acid; Hypertriglyceridemia; Hypoglycemic Agents; Hypolipidemic Agents; Japan; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Phenols; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tea; Triglycerides