AUTHOR=Xiang Xingliang , You Shanqin , Zeng Zhaoxiang , Xu Jinlin , Lin Yuqi , Liu Yukun , Zhang Lijun , Huang Rongzeng , Song Chengwu , Jin Shuna 

TITLE=Exploration of the hypoglycemic mechanism of Fuzhuan brick tea based on integrating global metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2023.1266156

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2023.1266156

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) is a worldwide popular beverage which has the appreciable potential in regulating glycometabolism. However, the reports on the hypoglycemic mechanism of FBT remain limited.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this study, the hypoglycemic effect of FBT was evaluated in a pharmacological experiment based on Kunming mice. Global metabolomics and network pharmacology were combined to discover the potential target metabolites and genes. In addition, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis was performed for verification.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Seven potential target metabolites and six potential target genes were screened using the integrated approach. After RT-qPCR analysis, it was found that the mRNA expression of VEGFA, KDR, MAPK14, and PPARA showed significant differences between normal and diabetes mellitus mice, with a retracement after FBT treatment.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> These results indicated that the hypoglycemic effect of FBT was associated with its anti-inflammatory activities and regulation of lipid metabolism disorders. The exploration of the hypoglycemic mechanism of FBT would be meaningful for its further application and development.</p>