title: Antimicrobial activity of saponin-rich fraction from Camellia oleifera cake and its effect on cell viability of mouse macrophage RAW 264.7.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a by-product of oil production, several million tons of Camellia oleifera cake is discarded every year in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a saponin-rich fraction isolated from C. oleifera cake and investigate its effect on the cell viability of RAW 264.7, a macrophage-like cell line present in almost all mouse tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The saponin-rich fraction was isolated from C. oleifera cake in several steps and had a saponin content of 95.42 ± 0.10% (w/w). It showed significant inhibitory activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and the fungi Mucor racemosus, Aspergillus oryzae, Rhizopus stolonifer, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Penicillium glaucum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 31.3, 31.3, 62.5, 250, 250, 250, 31.3 and 125 µg ml(-1) respectively. In addition, mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 pretreated with the saponin-rich fraction (80-200 µg mL(-1) ) exhibited a significant loss of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results may be useful for the future application of saponins from C. oleifera cake. However, the potential use of the saponin-rich fraction as an antimicrobial agent should be decided according to the target micro-organisms in order to avoid causing harm in humans.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China.
authors.forename: Jie-Lun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Dan-Fei
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming-Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D028244:Camellia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D014866:Waste Products