Green tea (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate reduces body weight with regulation of multiple genes expression in adipose tissue of diet-induced obese mice

Ann Nutr Metab. 2009;54(2):151-7. doi: 10.1159/000214834. Epub 2009 Apr 22.

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in diet-induced obese mice.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently they were divided into 3 groups and were maintained on a high-fat control diet or high-fat diets supplemented with 0.2 or 0.5% EGCG (w/w) for a further 8 weeks. Changes in the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and fatty acid oxidation were analyzed in white adipose tissue, together with biometric and blood parameters.

Results: Experimental diets supplemented with EGCG resulted in reduction of body weight and mass of various adipose tissues in a dose-dependent manner. EGCG diet also considerably lowered the levels of plasma triglyceride and liver lipid. In the epididymal white adipose tissue of EGCG diet-fed mice, the mRNA levels of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-alpha), regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly decreased. However, the mRNA levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), as well as lipolytic genes such as hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), were significantly increased.

Conclusion: These results suggest that green tea EGCG effectively reduces adipose tissue mass and ameliorates plasma lipid profiles in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. These effects might be at least partially mediated via regulation of the expression of multiple genes involved in adipogenesis, lipolysis, beta-oxidation and thermogenesis in white adipose tissue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipogenesis / drug effects*
  • Adipogenesis / genetics
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology
  • Body Weight / drug effects*
  • Body Weight / genetics
  • Catechin / administration & dosage
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Catechin / pharmacology
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epididymis / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Lipolysis / drug effects*
  • Lipolysis / genetics
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Random Allocation
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tea / chemistry
  • Thermogenesis / drug effects*
  • Thermogenesis / genetics
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Dietary Fats
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tea
  • Triglycerides
  • Catechin
  • epigallocatechin gallate