Anti‐obesity effect of EGCG on lipid metabolism and adipokines gene expression

A constituent of green tea, (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), has been known to possess anti‐diabetes, anti‐hypertension and anti‐cancer properties. In this study, we investigated the anti‐obesity effect of EGCG on diet‐induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with high‐fat diet for 8 wks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed 0.2% or 0.5% EGCG (w/w) supplemented with high‐fat diet for 8 wks. The body weight, adipose tissue mass, and lipid profiles of plasma and feces were measured. The mRNA levels of adipokines in adipose tissue were analyzed using real‐time quantitative PCR. Experimental diets supplemented with 0.2% or 0.5% EGCG significantly reduced the body weight by 14% or 20% respectively, compared to control diet ( P <0.05). EGCG diet decreased the adipose tissue mass, and significantly lowered the plasma triacylglyceride, free fatty acid and total cholesterol concentration, and considerably increased total lipid, triacylglyceride, and total cholesterol of feces. The mRNA levels of adipokines like leptin, resistin, adiponectin and adipsin in epididymal adipose tissue were also significantly decreased by EGCG ( P <0.05). Our results suggest that EGCG has shown anti‐obesity action through loss of adipose tissue mass, amelioration of lipid metabolism, induction of fecal lipid excretion and suppression of adipokines gene expression. (This work was supported (M10510130005‐06N1013‐00510) from the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) under the Ministry of Science and Technology in Korea.)