Que Zui tea extract alleviates atherosclerosis via liver-vasculature-gut axis by modulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota in ApoE-/- mice.
Chen X, Cui H, et al. • Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology • 2026
Que Zui tea extract exerts significant anti-atherosclerotic effects in ApoE-/- mice by modulating oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota via a liver-vasculature-gut axis.
Key Findings
Results
UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS identified 19 compounds in Que Zui tea extract, with 6'-O-caffeoylarbutin as the dominant chemical compound.
A total of 19 compounds were identified in the QT extract using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry.
6'-O-caffeoylarbutin was identified as the dominant chemical compound among the 19 identified constituents.
The extract was described as rich in bioactive constituents with potential health benefits.
Results
QT extract increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased oxidative stress markers in H2O2-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.
QT markedly increased antioxidant capacity as measured by catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in HUVECs.
QT decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in H2O2-stimulated HUVECs.
The in vitro model used H2O2 stimulation to induce oxidative stress in HUVECs.
Antioxidant effects were associated with enhanced Nrf2 signaling.
Results
QT attenuated aortic atherosclerotic lesions and hepatic steatosis in high-cholesterol diet-fed ApoE-/- mice.
Histopathological changes were systematically evaluated in the in vivo model.
ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet to induce atherosclerosis.
QT treatment reduced both aortic plaque formation and liver fat accumulation.
Reduced levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were observed.
Results
QT improved serum lipid profiles in ApoE-/- mice by reducing atherogenic lipids and increasing HDL-C.
QT reduced total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL).
Lipid metabolism regulation was mediated via the PPARα/SREBP1 pathways as determined by liver transcriptomics and target protein validation.
Results
QT reduced systemic and vascular inflammation in ApoE-/- mice through suppression of the NF-κB pathway.
QT reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α.
QT also reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels.
Anti-inflammatory effects were mechanistically linked to suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Reduced VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 levels indicated reduced vascular inflammation.
Results
QT reshaped gut microbiota composition in ApoE-/- mice, including modulation of specific bacterial taxa and increased abundance of SCFA-producing beneficial bacteria.
QT modulated gut microbiota structure, affecting taxa including Defluviltaleaceae, Allobaculum, Harryflintia, and Ruminococcaceae.
QT increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing beneficial bacteria.
Gut microbiota changes were part of a proposed liver-vasculature-gut axis mechanism.
Gut microbiota composition was systematically determined as part of a multi-system analysis.
Results
QT enhanced antioxidant capacity in vivo via Nrf2 signaling in ApoE-/- mice.
Nrf2 signaling pathway activation was identified as the mechanistic basis for QT's antioxidant effects in vivo.
This finding was supported by liver transcriptomics and target protein validation.
Nrf2 pathway activation complemented the anti-inflammatory (NF-κB) and lipid-regulatory (PPARα/SREBP1) mechanisms.
What This Means
This research suggests that Que Zui tea (QT), a traditional herbal tea, can significantly reduce the development of atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries) in a mouse model of the disease. Using mice genetically predisposed to atherosclerosis and fed a high-cholesterol diet, the researchers found that QT treatment reduced fatty plaque buildup in arteries and fat accumulation in the liver, while also improving blood lipid levels by lowering 'bad' cholesterol and fats and raising 'good' cholesterol. The tea's effects were linked to three main biological pathways: reducing oxidative stress (cell damage from reactive molecules), dampening inflammation, and improving the way the body processes fats and cholesterol.
The study also found that QT changed the composition of gut bacteria (the microbiome) in treated mice, increasing the abundance of bacteria that produce beneficial compounds called short-chain fatty acids. These gut microbiota changes were part of what the researchers describe as a 'liver-vasculature-gut axis,' suggesting the tea works through interconnected effects on the liver, blood vessels, and gut simultaneously. In laboratory cell experiments, QT also protected blood vessel cells from oxidative damage.
This research suggests that Que Zui tea, which contains 19 identifiable bioactive compounds with 6'-O-caffeoylarbutin as the primary one, could be a promising natural product for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. However, since the study was conducted in mice, further research in humans would be needed before any conclusions about its effects in people can be drawn.
Chen X, Cui H, Li Y, Wang J, Fan Y, Liu Y, et al.. (2026). Que Zui tea extract alleviates atherosclerosis via liver-vasculature-gut axis by modulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota in ApoE-/- mice.. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2026.158325