Green tea seed oil reduces weight gain in C57BL/6J mice and influences adipocyte differentiation by suppressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ

Abstract

Given that tea contains a number of chemical constituents possessing medicinal and pharmacological properties, green tea seed is also believed to contain many biologically active compounds such as saponin, flavonoids, vitamins, and oil materials. However, little is known about the physiologic functions of green tea seed oil. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-obesity effects of green tea seed oil in C57BL/6J mice and in preadipocyte 3T3L-1 cell lines. In vivo, three groups of mice were fed with a standard diet, a high-fat diet containing 30% shortening, or 30% of green tea seed oil based on a standard diet for 85 days. The levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and alanine aminotransferase in blood were analyzed at the end of the study. The mice given green tea seed oil gained less weight compared to mice given the shortening diet (p < 0.01). The plasma level of total cholesterol was decreased by a significant level of 32.4% in mice given the green tea seed oil compared to the mice given the shortening diet (p < 0.01). In addition, 3T3-L1 cells were treated for 2 days to evaluate effects of green tea seed oil on adipocyte differentiation. Green tea seed oil inhibited expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma(2) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha in adipocytes and adipose tissue from the experimental animals. These results indicate that the anti-obesity effects of green tea seed oil might be, in part, through suppression of transcription factors related to adipocyte differentiation.

Adipocytes secreted leptin is a pro-tumor factor for survival of multiple myeloma under chemotherapy

“…The adipocyte precursor (pre-adipocyte) cell line 3T3-L1 cells were also used to generate mature adipocytes. After differentiation, these cells were fixed with 4.0% paraformaldehyde, stained with red oil and observed using microscopy as previously reported [33]. …”

(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate blocks 3T3-L1 adipose conversion by inhibition of cell proliferation and suppression of adipose phenotype expression

“…However, adipose conversion blockage by treatment with EGCG before induction of differentiation suggests that EGCG affects lipogenesis and expression of adipose phenotype directly, and occur early in the cell programming into differentiation pathway (Morikawa et al, 2007;Sakurai et al, 2009). Additionally, the identification of early differentiating cells in the lower EGCG concentrations, and its gradual reduction at higher concentrations, implies that adipose conversion is inhibited by EGCG at three different levels: i) cell programming, as suggested by the results in cultures grown in EGCG containing medium; ii) blockage of transient amplification of committed cells, that could involve the arrest in G2/M; and iii) inhibition of terminal phenotype expression after chronic exposure to catechin as suggested by C/EBPα and PPARγ suppression (Kim et al, 2008;Moon et al, 2007). These results may provide some mechanisms on the anti-obesity effect of chronic tea consumption (Boon, 2008;Lin and Lin-Shiau, 2006;Roghani and Baluchnejadmojarad, 2010;Sayama et al, 2000).…”

Fatty Acid Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Seed Oil Extracted by Optimized Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

“…Linoleic acid, as an essential fatty acid from omega-3 group, is important in the development and maintenance of the nervous system and physiological functions in humans [6]. Besides, tea seed oil was shown to have an anti-obesity effect in an in vivo model [7]. Thus, using tea seeds as a source of edible oil has been suggested as a solution to utilizing what would otherwise be a waste product.…”