Green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate alleviates high‐fat diet‐induced obesity in mice by regulating the gut–brain axis

Abstract

Abstract Plant polyphenols have gained attention in recent years because of their potential to alleviate obesity and metabolic syndrome, protect neurological function, and maintain intestinal function. Here, we evaluated the effect of green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to suppress obesity, alleviate intestinal inflammation, and regulate hypothalamic neurotransmitters in high‐fat diet mice. Obese male C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg·body weight (bw) of EGCG or water per day for 6 weeks. The results demonstrated that EGCG significantly reduced bw, fat accumulation, and liver steatosis. EGCG also modulated hypothalamic neurotransmitters such as dopamine and 5‐HTP. Besides, EGCG attenuated the expression of colonic inflammatory factors and barrier damage, increased the gut microbial abundance such as genus Alloprevotella, reduced short‐chain fatty acids, and downregulated the transcription factors. The results suggest that EGCG may alleviate obesity and related metabolic disorders through gut–brain interaction.

Keywords

• central nervous system
• gut microbiota
• neurotransmitters
• obese mice
• short‐chain fatty acids
• tea polyphenols