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Shaken Hunan black tea is an innovative Hunan black tea processed by adding shaking to the traditional Hunan black tea. The quality of shaken black tea is influenced by leaf grades of different maturity. In this study, the taste and aroma quality of shaken Hunan black tea processed with different grades were analyzed by sensory evaluation (SP, HPLC, and HS-SPME/GC-MS). The results showed that shaken Hunan black tea processed with one bud and two leaves has the best quality, which has a sweet, mellow, and slightly floral taste, as well as a floral, honey, and sweet aroma. Moreover, caffeine and EGCG were identified as the most important bitter and astringent substances in shaken Hunan black. Combined with the analysis of GC-MS and OAV analysis, geraniol, jasmone, β-myrcene, citral, and trans-β-ocimene might be the most important components that affect the sweet aroma, while methyl jasmonate, indole, and nerolidol were the key components that affect the floral aroma of shaken Hunan black tea. This study lays a foundation for this study of the taste and aroma characteristics of shaken Hunan black tea and guides enterprises to improve shaken black tea processing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EGCG is often regarded as the main active ingredient in tea to protect blood glucose homeostasis. The content of low molecular weight polyphenols such as EGCG in fungus fermented black tea (FFBT) is extremely low, and there are few studies on the hyperglycemic effect of FFBT. To explore the hypoglycemic effects and potential mechanisms of FFBT, GK rats with spontaneous hyperglycemic were given 280 mg⋅kg-1 FFBT extract (equivalent to 9 g of FFBT for daily human consumption) by gavage intervention. The study assessed the effects of FFBT on body weight, glucose homeostasis, regulatory factors related to glucose homeostasis, diabetic complications and liver transcription profiles in hyperglycemic rats. The results indicated that FFBT could obviously reduce the fasting blood glucose level and random blood sugar level of hyperglycemic rats, improve the abnormal glucose metabolism in hyperglycemic rats, maintain glucose homeostasis and alleviate the damage caused by diabetic complications in hyperglycemic rats. In addition, transcriptome analysis revealed that the hypoglycemic properties of FFBT might be related to the regulation of gene expression in the liver, such as Gck, Pklr, Pkm. This study found that FFBT may be a potential hypoglycemic functional beverage, providing a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of fermented tea such as FFBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard tea samples are indispensable for the objective and accurate identification of tea quality. In this study, the preparation process of standard Hunan black tea standard samples was introduced and its quality was analyzed. The results of the sensory evaluation and biochemical components show that the supper grade of standard Hunan black tea sample had the highest amino acid content, making the taste sweet and mellow. The terpenoid contents in 110 volatile aroma substances identified were significantly higher than those of other tea samples, and the aroma was tender, sweet, rich and lasting. The first grade standard sample had the highest water extracts and catechin content, making the taste mellow. Meanwhile 114 volatile aroma substances were identified, with the contents of various volatile components in the middle level, showing a pure sweet flavor. The second grade standard sample contained relatively low taste component contents, showing sweet with a bit thick taste, and 109 volatile aroma substances were identified. The contents of fatty acid-derived volatile substances and carotenoids were significantly higher than those of other tea samples, showing sweet and floral aroma. This study can provide a reference for the processing and production of Hunan black tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most abundant plant polyphenols in the human diet, (-)-epicatechin (EC) can improve insulin sensitivity and regulate glucose homeostasis. However, the primary mechanisms involved in EC anti-T2DM benefits remain unclear. The present study explored the effects of EC on the gut microbiota and liver transcriptome in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Goto-Kakizaki rats for the first time. The findings showed that EC protected glucose homeostasis, alleviated systemic oxidative stress, relieved liver damage, and increased serum insulin. Further investigation showed that EC reshaped gut microbiota structure, including inhibiting the proliferation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-producing bacteria and reducing serum LPS. In addition, transcriptome analysis revealed that the insulin signaling pathway may be the core pathway of the EC anti-T2DM effect. Therefore, EC may modulate the gut microbiota and liver insulin signaling pathways by the gut-liver axis to alleviate T2DM. As a diet supplement, EC has promising potential in T2DM prevention and treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)