Fermented green tea extract exhibits hypolipidaemic effects through the inhibition of pancreatic lipase and promotion of energy expenditure

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 117; no. 2; pp. 177 - 186
• Main Authors: Seo, Dae-Bang, Jeong, Hyun Woo, Kim, Yeon-Ji, Kim, Sukyung, Kim, Jeongkee, Lee, Ji Hae, Joo, Kyungmi, Choi, Jin Kyu, Shin, Song Seok, Lee, Sung-Joon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 28.01.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use; Atherosclerosis; Bacillus; Camellia sinensis; Cardiovascular disease; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Fermentation; Firmicutes; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects; Hyperlipidemias - blood; Hyperlipidemias - drug therapy; Hypertriglyceridemia - blood; Hypertriglyceridemia - drug therapy; Hypolipidemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypolipidemic Agents - therapeutic use; Lipase - antagonists & inhibitors; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; Lipids; Mesocricetus; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Nutrition; Nutrition; Obesity; Pancreas; Pancreas - enzymology; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Prevention; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Rodents; Serotonin - blood; Tea; Triglycerides - blood; Gut microbiota; Energy expenditure; Hyperlipidaemia; Pancreatic lipase; Fermented green tea; Serotonin; FGT fermented green tea; LPL lipoprotein lipase; HFD high-fat diet; FF fenofibrate; AMPK AMP-activated protein kinase
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114516004621

Hyperlipidaemia is a major cause of atherosclerosis and related CVD and can be prevented with natural substances. Previously, we reported that a novel Bacillus-fermented green tea (FGT) exerts anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic effects. This study further investigated the hypotriglyceridaemic and anti-obesogenic effects of FGT and its underlying mechanisms. FGT effectively inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro (IC50, 0·48 mg/ml) and ameliorated postprandial lipaemia in rats (26 % reduction with 500 mg/kg FGT). In hypertriglyceridaemic hamsters, FGT administration significantly reduced plasma TAG levels. In mice, FGT administration (500 mg/kg) for 2 weeks augmented energy expenditure by 22 % through the induction of plasma serotonin, a neurotransmitter that modulates energy expenditure and mRNA expressions of lipid metabolism genes in peripheral tissues. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that FGT reduced the proportion of the phylum Firmicutes in hamsters, which could further contribute to its anti-obesity effects. Collectively, these data demonstrate that FGT decreases plasma TAG levels via multiple mechanisms including inhibition of pancreatic lipase, augmentation of energy expenditure, induction of serotonin secretion and alteration of gut microbiota. These results suggest that FGT may be a useful natural agent for preventing hypertriglyceridaemia and obesity.