Abstract:In this study, we investigated the effect of different dose and storage time of Hubei dark brick tea on gastric emptying, intestinal propulsion and intestinal microflora in Kunming mice. Chemical analysis showed that the contents of free amino acids, theaflavins, thearubigins, theabrownin and coffeine of dark brick tea produced in 2010 were significantly higher, while the contents of total catechins and soluble sugars were significantly lower than the contents of those tea produced in 2016 and 2006. Different dose of dark brick tea extraction were intraperitoneally given to mice for consecutive 15 d, and the medium dose (1 667 mg/kg) could significantly promote gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion in mice, which seemed to be the most effective dose, because high dose (3 334 mg/kg) exhibited an inhibitory effect on gastric emptying and low dose (834 mg/kg) could remarkably increase bifidobaterium and decrease enterococcus. Additionally, in comparison with the control, all the dark brick tea tested improved gastric emptying, intestinal peristalsis, as well as optimized intestinal microflora strikingly. Furthermore, the dark brick tea processed in 2006 was the most effective, with the maximum intestinal propulsion rate, the lowest quantities of enterbacteria and enterococcus, and the highest amount of lactobacillus and bifidobaterium.