Bai Mao Tea Polysaccharides Induce Adipose Tissue Browning and Ameliorate Diet-Induced Obesity by Modulating Butyrate Production and Gut Microbiota Composition

We investigated the antiobesity effects and mechanisms of polysaccharides extracted from Baimao tea (BMTP). Mice were administered BMTP at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg BW for 8 weeks. BMTP significantly reduced body weight and improved insulin sensitivity, especially in the medium- and high-dose groups. Adipocyte volume decreased, while multivesicular adipocyte-like cells increased. UCP1 expression was upregulated in both inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT). Serum and colonic butyric acid levels significantly increased, and gut microbiota composition shifted. Antibiotic treatment exacerbated obesity and metabolic abnormalities, while butyrate supplementation partially restored body weight, insulin sensitivity, and thermogenic protein expression (PGC-1α, UCP1), suggesting that butyric acid plays a key role in BMTP-induced fat browning. These findings establish BMTP's antiobesity effect via a microbiota-butyrate-adipose axis, highlighting its potential as a safe, plant-derived prebiotic for metabolic syndrome management.