Theabrownin from Pu-erh tea attenuates hypercholesterolemia via modulation of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 31;10(1):4971. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12896-x.

Abstract

Pu-erh tea displays cholesterol-lowering properties, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Theabrownin is one of the most active and abundant pigments in Pu-erh tea. Here, we show that theabrownin alters the gut microbiota in mice and humans, predominantly suppressing microbes associated with bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. Theabrownin increases the levels of ileal conjugated bile acids (BAs) which, in turn, inhibit the intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling pathway, resulting in increased hepatic production and fecal excretion of BAs, reduced hepatic cholesterol, and decreased lipogenesis. The inhibition of intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling is accompanied by increased gene expression of enzymes in the alternative BA synthetic pathway, production of hepatic chenodeoxycholic acid, activation of hepatic FXR, and hepatic lipolysis. Our results shed light into the mechanisms behind the cholesterol- and lipid-lowering effects of Pu-erh tea, and suggest that decreased intestinal BSH microbes and/or decreased FXR-FGF15 signaling may be potential anti-hypercholesterolemia and anti-hyperlipidemia therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amidohydrolases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism*
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Catechin / pharmacology
  • Chenodeoxycholic Acid / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
  • Fermented Foods*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / drug effects
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / metabolism*
  • Ileum / drug effects
  • Ileum / metabolism
  • Lipogenesis / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metabolomics
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / drug effects
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tea*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Bile Acids and Salts
  • Plant Extracts
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Tea
  • fibroblast growth factor 15, mouse
  • theabrownin
  • farnesoid X-activated receptor
  • Chenodeoxycholic Acid
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Catechin
  • Cholesterol
  • Amidohydrolases
  • choloylglycine hydrolase