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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0NPJ Science of Food

Black tea ethanol soluble fraction restores intestinal homeostasis by modulating PI3K/AKT signaling and gut microbiota

  • Yuxuan Shi1
  • Jiayi Sun1
  • Lin Chen1
  • Shuang Xu1
  • Shasha Guo2
  • Anan Xu3
  • Qun Ye4
  • Yuefei Wang1
  • Ping Xu1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Institute of Tea Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
  2. 2College of Tea Science, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, China
  3. 3Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
  4. 4Provincial Key Agricultural Enterprise Research Institute of Mingbao Natural Plant Extracts, Hangzhou, China
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Abstract

While black tea’s oxidized polyphenols hold potential for gut health, the specific protective mechanisms of its ethanol-soluble fraction (BES), particularly regarding host-microbiota interactions, remain poorly defined. This study elucidated the dual mechanisms through which BES ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. By integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking/dynamics simulations, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis, we identified the PI3K/AKT signaling axis as a potential host target. Our findings suggest that key flavonoid constituents stably bind to critical nodes, potentially downregulating the expression and activation of pathway components. Concurrently, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics revealed that BES reshaped gut microbiota by suppressing Akkermansia and enriching SCFA producers such as Lactobacillus, restoring fecal SCFA levels. Fecal microbiota transplantation confirmed that BES-modulated microbiota alone transferred protection. Thus, BES acts concertedly through direct PI3K/AKT inhibition and indirect microbiota-SCFA modulation, providing a mechanistic basis for targeted use of black tea fractions in intestinal inflammation.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{shi2026black,
  title = {{Black tea ethanol soluble fraction restores intestinal homeostasis by modulating PI3K/AKT signaling and gut microbiota}},
  author = {Yuxuan Shi and Jiayi Sun and Lin Chen and Shuang Xu and Shasha Guo and Anan Xu and Qun Ye and Yuefei Wang and Ping Xu},
  journal = {NPJ Science of Food},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41538-026-00999-x},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00999-x},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Black tea ethanol soluble fraction restores intestinal homeostasis by modulating PI3K/AKT signaling and gut microbiota
AU  - Yuxuan Shi
AU  - Jiayi Sun
AU  - Lin Chen
AU  - Shuang Xu
AU  - Shasha Guo
AU  - Anan Xu
AU  - Qun Ye
AU  - Yuefei Wang
AU  - Ping Xu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/14
JO  - NPJ Science of Food
DO  - 10.1038/s41538-026-00999-x
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00999-x
AB  - While black tea’s oxidized polyphenols hold potential for gut health, the specific protective mechanisms of its ethanol-soluble fraction (BES), particularly regarding host-microbiota interactions, remain poorly defined. This study elucidated the dual mechanisms through which BES ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. By integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking/dynamics simulations, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis, we identified the PI3K/AKT signaling axis as a potential host target. Our findings suggest that key flavonoid constituents stably bind to critical nodes, potentially downregulating the expression and activation of pathway components. Concurrently, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics revealed that BES reshaped gut microbiota by suppressing Akkermansia and enriching SCFA producers such as Lactobacillus, restoring fecal SCFA levels. Fecal microbiota transplantation confirmed that BES-modulated microbiota alone transferred protection. Thus, BES acts concertedly through direct PI3K/AKT inhibition and indirect microbiota-SCFA modulation, providing a mechanistic basis for targeted use of black tea fractions in intestinal inflammation.
SN  - 2396-8370
ER  -