Abstract:The weight-loss effects of hot water extract of black tea, black tea polyphenols, and black tea polysaccharides were investigated using obese rats. The rat model of obesity was established by high-fat diet feeding, and the effects of different black tea extracts on the body weight of obese rats, Lee’s index, visceral adipose tissue mass, related biochemical parameters, morphology and quantity of fat cells, concentration of fecal fatty acid, and other indicators were determined. The results indicated that all black tea extracts could significantly decrease body weight, Lee’s index, visceral adipose tissue mass, and the content of serum triglycerides (TGs) and hepatic total cholesterol (TC) of obese rats (by an average of 20.93%, 3.04%, 37.08%, 51.08%, and 41.84%, respectively), increase the content of serum adiponectin (ADPN) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) (by an average of 45.64% and 46.74%, respectively), enhance the liver total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity by 41.48%, inhibit fat cell enlargement, and elevate the content of fecal fatty acids by 75.22%. The hot water extract of black tea could effectively decrease the serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) level by 50.00%. Therefore, black tea extracts had weight-loss effects and could reduce body weight and visceral adipose tissue mass, enhance serum ADPN content, improve serum lipid profile, increase antioxidant levels, reduce fat cell accumulation, and promote fecal fatty acid discharge. This study has important implications for the prevention and control of human obesity.
