Microbial and metabolomic remodeling by a formula of Sichuan dark tea improves hyperlipidemia in apoE-deficient mice

Abstract

Medicine-food homology is a long-standing concept in traditional Chinese medicine. YiNianKangBao (YNKB) tea is a medicine-food formulation based on Sichuan dark tea (Ya’an Tibetan tea), which is traditionally used for its lipid-lowering properties. In this study, we evaluated the effects of YNKB on dyslipidemia and investigated the mechanism underlying its correlation with gut microbiota and serum metabolite regulation. Wild-type mice were fed a normal diet as a control. Male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into three high-fat diet (HFD) groups, a model group, and two treated groups (100, 400 mg/kg/d for low, high-dose), and fed by gavage for 12 weeks. Serum lipid levels, composition of gut microbiota, and serum metabolites were then analyzed before treatment with YNKB. We extracted the ingredients of YNKB in boiled water for one hour. YNKB supplementation at a high dose of 400 mg/kg/day reduced bodyweight gains (relative epididymal fat pad and liver weight), and markedly attenuated serum lipid profiles and atherosclerosis index, with no significant differences present between the low-dose treatment and HFD groups. Gut microbiota and serum metabolic analysis indicated that significant differences were observed between normal, HFD, and YNKB treatment groups. These differences in gut microbiota exhibited strong correlations with dyslipidemia-related indexes and serum metabolite levels. Oral administration of high-dose YNKB also showed significant lipid-lowering activity against hyperlipidemia in apoE-deficient mice, which might be associated with composition alterations of the gut microbiota and changes in serum metabolite abundances. These findings highlight that YNKB as a medicine-food formulation derived from Sichuan dark tea could prevent dyslipidemia and improve the understanding of its mechanisms and the pharmacological rationale for preventive use.

Gut Microbiota Changes in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Concomitant Cardiovascular Diseases

“…Contrary to the preliminary data on the increased amount of Actinobacteria in the Verrucomicrobia (37). In addition, the authors discovered a negative correlation between the phylotype of Actinobacteria and the index of hyperlipidemia, weight gain, relative amount of epididymal fat and liver weight (37).…”

Huangjinya Black Tea Alleviates Obesity and Insulin Resistance via Modulating Fecal Metabolome in High‐Fat Diet‐Fed Mice

“…According to previous reports, [ 56,57 ] mice were orally gavaged with HJBT at the dose of 150 mg kg −1 BW (HJBT150) or 300 mg kg −1 BW (HJBT300) once daily. This dosage was equivalent to around 1 or 2 cups of black tea consumed for 70 kg adult person per day based on the conversion of caffeine intake.…”

Advances in understanding of health‐promoting benefits of medicine and food homology using analysis of gut microbiota and metabolomics

“…Li, Shi, et al. (2019) evaluated the effects of Yi Nian Kang Bao tea, a medicine–food formulation based on Sichuan dark tea, on dyslipidemia and investigated the mechanism underlying its correlation with gut microbiota and serum metabolite regulation. Their findings highlight the health‐promoting effects of Yi Nian Kang Bao tea on prevention of dyslipidemia.…”

“…Zhou et al (2016) studied beneficial effects of ginseng polysaccharides and ginsenosides in Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of ginseng, on over-fatigue and acute cold stress by analyzing gut microbiota and metabolome. Results showed that ginseng polysaccharides improved intestinal metabolism and reinstated the perturbed holistic gut microbiota Li, Shi, et al (2019). evaluated the effects of Yi Nian Kang Bao tea, a medicine-food formulation based on Sichuan dark tea, on dyslipidemia and investigated the mechanism underlying its correlation with gut microbiota and serum metabolite regulation.…”