Tibetan tea theabrownin Ameliorates Ethanol-Induced defects and modulates regulatory pathways in zebrafish

This study investigates the therapeutic potential of theabrownin, a polymer from Tibetan tea, in reducing ethanol-induced developmental abnormalities using a zebrafish model. Zebrafish embryos were pretreated with varying concentrations of theabrownin before ethanol exposure, followed by an assessment of their developmental morphology, oxidative stress markers, and metabolic pathways. The 100 µg/mL dose yielded the most significant reduction in malformations, while the 50 µg/mL and 200 µg/mL doses also demonstrated moderate improvements. Mechanistic analysis showed that theabrownin significantly decreased reactive oxygen species, enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and reduced malondialdehyde levels, alleviating oxidative stress. Furthermore, metabolomic profiling revealed that theabrownin modulates the metabolism of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, leucine, and proline-metabolites essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. These findings highlight the potential of theabrownin as a therapeutic agent for preventing the harmful effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.