[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.
Sagesaka
Y M
YM
Central Research Institute, Ito-en Co. Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan.
Uemura
T
T
Suzuki
Y
Y
Sugiura
T
T
Yoshida
M
M
Yamaguchi
K
K
Kyuki
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D012503:Saponins; D013662:Tea; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase