To explore the regulatory mechanism of large-leaf yellow tea aqueous extract on fatty acid metabolism in the adipose tissue of high-fat diet fed mice.

Five-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (fed on a low-fat diet (LFD)), high-fat diet (HFD), high-fat diet + 2.5% large-leaf yellow tea aqueous extract (HFD + 2.5% YT), and high-fat diet + 0.5% large-leaf yellow tea aqueous extract (HFD + 0.5% YT). The body mass, adipose tissue mass and morphology, and the expression of key genes and proteins associated with fatty acid metabolism in each group of mice were measured after dietary intervention for 12 weeks.

Large-leaf yellow tea aqueous extract at a concentration of 2.5% significantly reduced the body mass and adipose tissue mass of HFD fed mice (P < 0.001), reduced lipid accumulation and promoted the expression of fatty acid synthesis genes such as SREBP-1C, FAS, ACC, SCD-1, and the the expression of fatty acid degradation genes such as PGC-1α and CPT-1. Moreover, large-leaf yellow tea aqueous extract activated the adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase/acetyl CoA-carboxylase (AMPK/ACC) signaling pathway.

Intervention with 2.5% large-leaf yellow tea aqueous extract prevents obesity and lipid deposition induced by high-fat diet, and promotes fatty acid synthesis and oxidative catabolism in adipose tissue through activating the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway.