Metabolomics analysis reveals amelioration effects of yellowhorn tea extract on hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in high-fat diet-fed mice

Na Ta; Lisha A; Erdunduleng E; Rigeer Qi; Xiyele Mu; Lan Feng; Genna Ba; Yonghui Li; Junqing Zhang; Laxinamujila Bai; Minghai Fu

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1087256

Metabolomics analysis reveals amelioration effects of yellowhorn tea extract on hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in high-fat diet-fed mice

Front Nutr. 2023 Jan 19:10:1087256. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1087256. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Na Ta^{1

2}, Lisha A¹, Erdunduleng E³, Rigeer Qi², Xiyele Mu^{1

2}, Lan Feng^{1

2}, Genna Ba², Yonghui Li¹, Junqing Zhang¹, Laxinamujila Bai², Minghai Fu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Tropical Herbs, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
² NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Mongolian Medicine), School of Mongolian Medicine, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, China.
³ Department of Mongolian Medicine Preparation, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, China.

Abstract

Yellowhorn tea (YT) is traditionally used as a lipid-lowering beverage in Mongolian minorities. However, the pharmacological effects of YT extract and its specific metabolic changes in hyperlipidemia models are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers using untargeted metabolomics techniques and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the changes in metabolic pathways associated with lipid lowering, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant in hyperlipidemic mice. A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic mouse model was established. YT extract was administered as oral gavage at 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 g/kg doses for 10 weeks. HFD-induced hyperlipidemia and the therapeutic effect of YT extract were evaluated based on histopathology and by assessing blood lipid levels. Liver inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indices were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Liver metabolites were evaluated using untargeted metabolomics. Biochemical and histological examinations showed that YT extract significantly reduced body-weight gain (p < 0.01) and fat deposition in tissues. YT extract significantly reduced the levels of serum and liver triglyceride and total cholesterol; inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α]; malondialdehyde; and leptin (p < 0.05) in hyperlipidemic mice. YT extract also significantly increased the levels of oxidative stress indicators (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and adiponectin. Metabolomics studies revealed several endogenous molecules were altered by the high-fat diet and recovery following intervention with YT extract. The metabolites that were significantly different in the liver after YT intake included citicoline, acetylcholine, pyridoxine, and NAD. Pathway analysis indicated that YT extract ameliorated HFD-induced hyperlipidemia in mice via three major metabolic pathways, namely, glycerophospholipid metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. This study demonstrates YT extract has profound effects on the alleviation of HFD-induced hyperlipidemia, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Keywords: hyperlipidemia; inflammatory factor; liver untargeted metabolomics; oxidative stress; yellowhorn tea extract.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Science and Technology Young Talents Development Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (No. NJYT22048), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Planning Project (No. 2021GG0002), and Central Government Guided Local Scientific and Technological Development Project (No. 2021ZY0015).