Abstract
Pu-erh tea, a traditional Chinese beverage, has been believed to have many benefits to human health and without side effects. In this study, we systematically analyzed the main active components of Pu-erh tea and investigated its anti-obesity, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-oxidant effects using an obese rat model. Obesity was induced by feeding a high-fat diet and subsequently the experimental obese mice were fed with high-fat diet supplemented with low (2.5%), medium (5%) or high (7.5%) doses of Pu-erh tea powder for 6 weeks respectively. As result, the body weight gain of the rats was decreased by medium and high doses of Pu-erh tea treatments. Furthermore, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and atherosclerosis index (AI) were significantly lowered by Pu-erh tea compared to the control group. Conversely, high density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) level of the rats was significantly elevated by Pu-erh tea treatments. In addition, Pu-erh tea treatments increased the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxides (GSH-Px), whereas reduced the level of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in obese rats. Collectively, our find-ings revealed that Pu-erh tea exerts comprehensive benefits in anti-obesity, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-oxidant effects, therefore can be used as a promising functional food in obesity management.
Highlights
Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder that results from the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, it is characterized by enlarged fat mass and elevated lipid concentration in blood [1]
To investigate the physiological effects of Pu-erh tea, we firstly examined the main constituents of Pu-erh tea powder and its raw material, Shai Qing Mao Cha
Our findings revealed that Pu-erh tea is rich in active constituents, such as tea polyphenols, theaflavins, thearubigins, theabrownins, gallic acid and caffeine, which exerts comprehensive anti-obesity, anti-atherogenic and anti-oxidative effects in obese rats
Summary
Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder that results from the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, it is characterized by enlarged fat mass and elevated lipid concentration in blood [1]. Obesity is becoming a well-known risk factor for variety of life-style diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes all over the world, especially in the developed and most developing countries. Over-accumulation of lipid leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which could either grow towards the lumen of the artery or become unstable and rupture, causing an obstruction of the blood flow [2]. Atherosclerotic plaques have become the first threat to human health. Obesity is accompanied by the formation of oxygen free radicals, whose intensified activity without effective defense mechanisms can lead to oxidative stress and related complication [3]. Great efforts have been made to find natural foods to prevent obesity and atherosclerosis in the pass decades
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
