kudingcha extract

Kudingcha extract is a concentrated preparation derived from the leaves of Ilex kudingcha C.J. Tseng, a plant traditionally used in Chinese medicine and consumed as a bitter herbal tea. The main bioactive constituents are triterpene saponins and polyphenols—including chlorogenic acid and dicaffeoylquinic acids—as well as ursolic acid, lupeol, β-sitosterol, and other phytochemicals[1][2][4][8]. Mechanistically, components of kudingcha extract have been shown to modulate lipid metabolism (e.g., acting as antagonists at liver X receptor beta [LXRβ]), regulate genes involved in fatty acid synthesis (such as FAS and SREBP-1c), reduce adipocyte differentiation, lower blood glucose levels via upregulation of glucokinase and downregulation of glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic enzyme activity[1][6], exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by reducing cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α[3], inhibit neutrophil recruitment through ERK/AKT pathway modulation[4], display antioxidant properties due to high polyphenol content[2][3], protect against gastric injury in animal models[3], and show potential anticancer activities by downregulating metastasis-related genes[4]. Kudingcha extracts are primarily investigated for their anti-obesity, hypolipidemic (lipid-lowering), antidiabetic (blood-glucose-lowering), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antibacterial effects—and more recently for possible anticancer properties. Most evidence comes from preclinical studies; human data remain limited.

Other names

Ilex kudingcha extractKuding tea extractKuding teaKu-Ding-ChaKT extract