Insight into structural characteristics of theabrownin from Pingwu Fuzhuan brick tea and its hypolipidemic activity based on the in vivo zebrafish and in vitro lipid digestion and absorption models

Yue Xiao; Yanni Huang; Feiwu Long; Dongmei Yang; Yan Huang; Yuanyuan Han; Yanping Wu; Kai Zhong; Qian Bu; Hong Gao; Yina Huang

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134382

Insight into structural characteristics of theabrownin from Pingwu Fuzhuan brick tea and its hypolipidemic activity based on the in vivo zebrafish and in vitro lipid digestion and absorption models

Food Chem. 2023 Mar 15;404(Pt A):134382. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134382. Epub 2022 Sep 24.

Authors

Yue Xiao¹, Yanni Huang¹, Feiwu Long², Dongmei Yang¹, Yan Huang¹, Yuanyuan Han¹, Yanping Wu³, Kai Zhong³, Qian Bu⁴, Hong Gao³, Yina Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
² Research Center for Nutrition, Metabolism & Food Safety, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
³ Research Center for Nutrition, Metabolism & Food Safety, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; College of Biomass Science and Engineering and Healthy Food Evaluation Research Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
⁴ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Research Center for Nutrition, Metabolism & Food Safety, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
⁵ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Research Center for Nutrition, Metabolism & Food Safety, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address: hyn427@scu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36252371
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134382

Abstract

Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) is a post-fermented dark tea preferred by consumers for its excellent hypolipidemic activity, and theabrownin (TB) is the main bioactive composition in FBT. This work explored the structural and hypolipidemic properties of TB derived from Pingwu FBT, and investigated whether it exerted hypolipidemic activity by inhibiting intestinal lipid absorption. Structural characterization revealed that TB was an amorphous polymerized phenolic compound rich in hydroxyl and carboxyl groups with good thermostability. In vivo, TB and its fractions with different molecular weights (TB-LT3k, TB-3-10k, TB-10-30k, TB-30-100k, TB-GT100k) significantly reduced the lipid levels of hyperlipidemia zebrafish (P < 0.05). Moreover, TB attenuated hyperlipidemia by inhibiting intestinal lipid absorption, as TB effectively bound to bile acids, inhibited enzymatic activity of pancreatic lipase and cholesterol esterase, influenced micelle formation, and decreased micellar cholesterol solubility. Results facilitated research on TB and offered support for its feasibility as a natural alternative to prevent hyperlipidemia.

Keywords: Fuzhuan brick tea; Hyperlipidemia; Intestinal lipid absorption; Structural characterization; Theabrownin.

MeSH terms

Animals
Digestion
Hyperlipidemias* / drug therapy
Lipids
Metabolic Diseases*
Tea / chemistry
Zebrafish

Substances

Tea
theabrownin
Lipids