Purple tea extract (PTE) has shown promise in controlling diet-induced weight gain in both mice and humans by suppressing fat absorption and enhancing hepatic fat metabolism.

This study suggests that purple tea extract, with its unique composition, has the potential to aid in weight management by suppressing fat absorption and enhancing hepatic fat metabolism, as demonstrated in both animal and human studies. Seasonal variations in the constituents of purple tea highlight the importance of standardized extraction methods.

• The study investigates the effects of purple tea extract (PTE) on weight control.
• Previous studies on green and black tea for weight loss have yielded contradictory results.
• Purple tea, a unique variety, contains caffeine, theobromine, epigallocatechin (ECG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and GHG.
• In mice, PTE administration significantly reduced body weight gain, liver weight, abdominal fat, and triglycerides in serum and liver.
• Protein expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) 1A, involved in fat metabolism, was enhanced by PTE.
• PTE and its constituent caffeine suppressed fat absorption in olive oil-loaded mice.
• PTE and GHG enhanced CPT1A expression in HepG2 hepatoma cells.
• Human subjects consuming purple tea for four weeks showed improvements in body weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat mass.
• Seasonal changes in PTE constituents were observed, with stable caffeine and theobromine content.
• EGCG content varied seasonally, reaching its maximum in September.
• PTE offers potential as a natural weight management option through its impact on fat absorption and metabolism.