Effect of kombucha green tea (Camellia sinensis) on mRNA SREBP-1c expression of dyslipidemic model rats

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a condition marked by irregularities in the levels of lipids in the blood. The long-term use of synthetic hypolipidemic drugs can lead to numerous side effects, necessitating the search for alternative herbal remedies. Potential benefits of kombucha green tea (KGT), a traditional fermented drink with symbiotic SCOBY culture, known for its hypocholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant effects. These properties contribute to the management of advanced dyslipidemia by enhancing the activation of AMPK, which represses transcription of SREBP-1c involved in coding genes related to de novo lipogenesis in the liver. This study aims to investigate the potential benefits of KGT in Rattus norvegicus dyslipidemia.Methods: The experiment was conducted on five groups of male Rattus norvegicus, including a dyslipidemia control group (DLP), a healthy control group (NC), and the DLP group with KGT intervention at doses of 70, 85, and 100 mg/kg BW. SREBP-1c mRNA expression was analyzed using Real Time-qPCR.Results: Significant decrease in TC, LDL, and TG levels and an increase in HDL between the DLP group and the KGT intervention group (p<0.05). Moreover, SREBP-1c mRNA expression also decreased in all KGT treatment groups compared with the DLP group (p<0.05).Conclusions: Supplementation KGT in this study was shown to reduce the level of mRNA expression of SREBP-1c in the liver and improve serum lipid profile of dyslipidemic rats.