[Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions of tea-leaf saponin]

Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions of tea-leaf saponin, which was a mixture of saponin separated from leaves of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, were investigated. Tea-leaf saponin showed relatively high antimicrobial activity against pathogenic dermal fungi and its MIC value for Microsporum audouinii was 10 microgam/ml. On the other hand, tea-leaf saponin inhibited rat paw edema induced by carrageenin in a dose dependent manner. Activation of hyaluronidase, one of the enzymes involved in inflammatory reactions, was inhibited by tea-leaf saponin. It was also found that tea-leaf saponin antagonized the action of leukotrien D4, one of the chemical mediators of inflammatory reactions. Any symptom of toxic reaction was not observed when tea-leaf saponin was administered orally to mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg.