Comparative Studies on the Hypolipidemic and Growth Suppressive Effects of Oolong, Black, Pu-erh, and Green Tea Leaves in Rats

Kuan-Li Kuo,† Meng-Shih Weng,‡ Chun-Te Chiang,‡ Yao-Jen Tsai,† Shoei-Yn Lin-Shiau,§ and Jen-Kun Lin*‡
Wun-Shan Branch, Tea Research and Extension Station, Taipei, Taiwan, Graduate Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, and Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
J. Agric. Food Chem., 2005, 53 (2), pp 480–489
DOI: 10.1021/jf049375k
Publication Date (Web): December 24, 2004
Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society
†

 Tea Research and Extension Station.

,

 These two authors have contributed equally to this work.

,
‡

 Graduate Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University.

,
§

 Institute of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University.

,
*

 Author to whom correspondence should be addressed [telephone (886)-2-2356-2213; fax (886)-2-2391-8944; e-mail jklin@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw].

Abstract

The four major commercial teas, oolong, black, pu-erh, and green teas, have been manufactured in southeast Asia. In this study, we evaluated the growth suppressive and hypolipidemic effect of these four different tea leaves by oral feeding to male Sprague−Dawley rats for 30 weeks. The results showed that the suppression of body weights of tea leaves-fed groups were in the order:  oolong tea > pu-erh tea > black tea > green tea. Pu-erh tea and oolong tea could lower the levels of triglyceride more significantly than that of green tea and black tea, but pu-erh tea and green tea were more efficient than oolong tea and black tea in lowering the level of total cholesterol. In lipoprotein, 4% pu-erh tea could increase the level of HDL-C and decrease the level of LDL-C, but other teas simply decrease the levels of both. The activity of antioxidant enzyme SOD is increased in all tea-fed groups as compared to the basal diet-fed group. Finally, relative weight ratios of liver to epididylmal adipose tissue were lower in feeding oolong tea and pu-erh tea groups. On the basis of these findings, it seemed that the fully fermented pu-erh and black tea leaves and partially fermented oolong tea leaves were more effective on their growth suppressive and hypolipidemic effects as compared to the nonfermented green tea leaves.

Keywords: Gowth suppressive; hypolipodemic; triglyceride; total cholesterol; HDL-C; LDL-C

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History

  • Published In Issue January 26, 2005
  • Received for review April 18, 2004. Revised manuscript received October 26, 2004. Accepted October 29, 2004. This work was supported by grants from the National Science Council, NSC93-2311-B-002-001, 93-2320-B002-111, and NSC93-2320-B-002-127.

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