Improvement of obesity phenotype by Chinese sweet leaf tea (Rubus suavissimus) components in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.
Drinking an herbal tea to lose weight is a well-liked concept. This study was designed to examine the possible improvement of obesity phenotype by a new tea represented by its purified components, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and rubusoside (GER). Male obese-prone SD rats were given low-fat diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat diet plus GER at the dose of 0.22 g/kg of body weight for 9 weeks. GER significantly reduced body weight gain by 22% compared to the high-fat diet control group with 48% less abdominal fat gain. Food intake was not affected. Blood glucose was lowered in the GER-treated group, whereas serum triglycerides and cholesterol were significantly reduced by 50%. This improved obesity phenotype may be associated with the attenuated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells. Although other underlying, possibly multiple, mechanisms behind the improved phenotype are largely unknown, the observed improvement of multiple obesity-related parameters by the new tea warrants further investigations.
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
Gar Yee
GY
Koh
Kathleen
K
McCutcheon
Fang
F
Zhang
Dong
D
Liu
Carrie A
CA
Cartwright
Roy
R
Martin
Peiying
P
Yang
Zhijun
Z
Liu
D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010936:Plant Extracts