Effects and molecular mechanisms of Ninghong black tea extract in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease of rats

J Food Sci. 2020 Mar;85(3):800-807. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.14846. Epub 2020 Feb 23.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to observe the effects of Ninghong black tea extract on fat deposition and high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to explore the potential mechanisms of these effect. Under 2% Ninghong black tea extract diet feeding in rat model, the results showed that Ninghong black tea extract decreased the body fat ratio and the number of lipid droplets in the liver and significantly alleviated NAFLD in the rat model. The real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that Ninghong black tea extract significantly upregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), which is important in fatty acid β-oxidation, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), which plays an important role in the synthesis of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). By promoting the expression of PPARα and MTP in liver tissue and thereby promoting fatty acid β-oxidation and VLDL synthesis, Ninghong black tea extract relieves high-fat diet-induced NAFLD.

Keywords: Ninghong black tea; microsomal triglyceride transfer protein; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Camellia sinensis / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / genetics
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • PPAR alpha / genetics
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • PPAR alpha
  • Plant Extracts
  • microsomal triglyceride transfer protein