Abstract
Small-leaved Kuding tea is a traditional Chinese tea that is rich in polyphenols. In the current study, we investigated the preventive effect of small-leaved Kuding tea (SLKDT) on D-galactose-induced oxidative aging in mice. Changes in serum, skin, liver, and spleen of experimental animals were determined using biochemical and molecular biology techniques. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that polyphenol extract of SLKDT (PSLKDT) improved the indices of the thymus, brain, heart, liver, spleen, and kidney function in model mice. PSLKDT prevented a decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione (GSH) as well as an increase in nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum, liver, and spleen. Pathological assessment also showed that PSLKDT reduced oxidative damage induced by D-galactose in skin, liver, and spleen. We further found that PSLKDT upregulated neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, catalase (CAT), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1) mRNA expression and downregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression. Protein levels of SOD1 (Cu/Zn-SOD), SOD2 (Mn-SOD), CAT, GSH1 (γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase), and GSH2 (glutathione synthetase) in the liver and spleen were also increased by PSLKDT treatment. Collectively, these results indicate that PSLKDT is effective in preventing D-galactose-induced oxidative aging in mice, and its efficacy is significantly higher than antioxidant vitamin C. Because PSLKDT is a potent antioxidant and antiaging polyphenol, Kuding tea rich in PSLKDT should be considered an ideal drink with antioxidative and antiaging effects.
Highlights
Kuding tea, the leaf of broadleaf holly, has been used as herbal tea in China for more than 2,000 years
HPLC analysis revealed that polyphenol extract of SLKDT (PSLKDT) contained six types of polyphenols, including catechin, caffeic acid, GCG, ferulic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, and isochlorogenic acid A (Figure 1)
Isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid A content, which were higher than catechin, caffeic acid, GCG, ferulic acid, were the primary bioactive components in PSLKDT (Table 3)
Summary
The leaf of broadleaf holly, has been used as herbal tea in China for more than 2,000 years. Its production and consumption are second only to regular tea (Camellia tea); Kuding tea is viewed as the best among the non-Camellia teas [1]. Based on the different plant origins, Kuding tea can be divided into big-leaved and small-leaved Kuding tea (SLKDT). Big-leaved Kuding tea is derived from the plant I. kudingcha C. J. Tseng, whereas small-leaved Kuding tea originated from the plant Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.) Bl. Studies have indicated that SLKDT has a variety of medicinal properties such as dispersing heat and resolving toxins, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, improving hypertension and hyperlipidemia, helping in weight control, and diuretic [3].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
