The modulatory effect of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3″Me) on intestinal microbiota of high fat diet-induced obesity mice model

(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3″Me) has exhibited multiple beneficial effects on the prevention of obesity in oolong tea. However, its absorption is relatively low, and the potential to be fully utilized is not completely elucidated. Therefore, with human flora-associated (HFA) mice model, the effect of EGCG3″Me on high fat diet-induced obesity was investigated by high-throughput sequencing. The shifts in relative abundance of the dominant taxa at the phylum, family and genus levels showed the dramatically effects of EGCG3″Me. Despite significant inter-individual variation, a large increase in Bacteroidetes with concomitant decrease of Firmicutes was observed after the administration of EGCG3″Me for 8 weeks, with a corresponding decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which reflect the modulatory effect of EGCG3″Me on intestinal microbiota. The results showed that EGCG3″Me may have prebiotic-like activity and can be used as a functional food component with potential therapeutic utility in manipulating intestinal microbiota, contributing to the prevention of gut dysbiosis.