Sanhua Tea Alleviates Obesity Symptoms by Improving Blood Lipid Levels, Gut Microbiota, and Liver Metabolome in Mice

Obesity-related complications have long been significant risk factors threatening human health. Sanhua tea is an instant tea composed of Rosa rugosa Thunb., Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait., Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl., Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., and Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Sanhua tea in obese mice. An obesity model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a high-fat diet. Mice received intragastric Sanhua tea at doses (500, 1500, and 2500 mg/kg/day) for three weeks. Biochemical analyses indicated that Sanhua tea significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in serum. Sanhua tea also alleviated liver oxidative stress by reducing malondialdehyde levels and regulating the activities of related enzymes. Additionally, Sanhua tea maintained gut microbiota diversity and reshaped microbial composition, reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio, increasing beneficial bacterial communities, and significantly decreasing harmful bacterial communities. Metabolomics analysis revealed that Sanhua tea altered liver metabolites, which were significantly associated with specific gut microbes. These metabolites influenced pathways such as ABC transporters, general metabolic pathways, and central carbon metabolism in cancer, contributing to obesity alleviation. In conclusion, Sanhua tea alleviated obesity symptoms in mice by modulating blood lipid levels, liver metabolism, and gut microbiota.