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The modulatory effect of polyphenols from green tea, oolong tea and black tea on human intestinal microbiota in vitro

Journal of Food Science and Technology volume 55, pages 399–407 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

In the present study, polyphenols from green tea (GTP), oolong tea (OTP) and black tea (BTP) were prepared by extraction with hot water and polyamide column chromatography. In antioxidant assay in vitro, each tea polyphenols exhibited potential activity; the intestinal absorption of GTP, OTP and BTP was investigated individually by Caco-2 transwell system, and each sample was poorly transported, illustrating a low transport rate for tea polyphenols through cell monolayers. The effects of GTP, OTP and BTP on human intestinal microbiota were also evaluated, and each sample induced the proliferation of certain beneficial bacteria and inhibited Bacteroides–Prevotella and Clostridium histolyticum. Moreover, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced in cultures with tea polyphenols were relatively higher. Together, these results suggested GTP, OTP and BTP may modulate the intestinal flora and generate SCFA, and contribute to the improvements of human health.

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Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501473), Key Research and Development Project of Zhejiang Province (2017C02039), People-benefit Project of Ningbo (2015C10061) and K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, People’s Republic of China

    Hanyang Sun & Yuhui Chen

  2. Department of Food Science and Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, People’s Republic of China

    Mei Cheng & Xin Zhang

  3. Department of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou, 325006, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaojie Zheng & Zhicheng Zhang

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  1. Hanyang Sun
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  2. Yuhui Chen
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  3. Mei Cheng
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  4. Xin Zhang
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  5. Xiaojie Zheng
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  6. Zhicheng Zhang
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Correspondence to Xin Zhang.

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Sun, H., Chen, Y., Cheng, M. et al. The modulatory effect of polyphenols from green tea, oolong tea and black tea on human intestinal microbiota in vitro. J Food Sci Technol 55, 399–407 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2951-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2951-7

Keywords

  • Tea
  • Polyphenols
  • Intestinal microbiota
  • Prebiotic
  • Modulatory effect