Beneficial effects of
green tea polyphenols (
GTP) against
obesity have been reported, however, the mechanism of this protection is not clear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify
GTP-targeted genes in
obesity using the high-fat-diet-induced obese rat model. A total of three groups (n = 12/group) of Sprague Dawley (SD) female rats were tested, including the control group (rats fed with
low-fat diet), the HF group (rats fed with high-fat diet), and the HF+GTP group (rats fed with high-fat diet and
GTP in
drinking water). The HF group increased
body weight as compared to the control group. Supplementation of
GTP in the
drinking water in the HF+GTP group reduced
body weight as compared to the HF group.
RNA from liver samples was extracted for gene expression analysis. A total of eighty-four genes related to
obesity were analyzed using PCR array. Compared to the rats in the control group, the rats in the HF group had the expression levels of 12 genes with significant changes, including 3 orexigenic genes (Agrp, Ghrl, and Nr3c1); 7
anorectic genes (Apoa4,
Cntf, Ghr, IL-1β, Ins1, Lepr, and Sort); and 2 genes that relate to energy expenditure (Adcyap1r1 and Adrb1). Intriguingly, the HF+GTP group restored the expression levels of these genes in the high-fat-induced obese rats. The
protein expression levels of IL-1β and
IL-6 in the serum samples from the control, HF, and HF+GTP groups confirmed the results of gene expression. Furthermore, the
protein expression levels of
superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) and
catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) also showed
GTP-regulated protective changes in this obese rat model. Collectively, this study revealed the beneficial effects of
GTP on
body weight via regulating
obesity-related genes, anti-
inflammation,
anti-oxidant capacity, and
estrogen-related actions in high-fat-induced obese rats.