Pu-erh tea may prevent circadian rhythm disorders by promoting tryptophan metabolism and signaling interactions in the gut-liver-brain axis.
Healthy mice were administered water or 0.25% Pu-erh tea over a period of seven weeks, and then subjected to a disruption of their light/dark cycle for forty days. The assessment of effects was based on changes in neurotransmitter secretion and gene oscillations, intestinal inflammation, and the balance of intestinal microbes and metabolites.
Results indicated that Pu-erh tea had beneficial impacts in regulating neurotransmitter secretion and clock gene oscillations, especially indole and 5-hydroxytryptamine pathways, a key process involving the gut-liver-brain axis. Moreover, the tea's metabolites improved release of brain hormones, thus enhancing hepatic glycolipid metabolism and lowering intestinal oxidative stress. Further observed beneficial effects included promotion of liver lipid metabolism and reduction of intestinal inflammation, via the enterohepatic circulation.
