Saponin

Animal Feed Science & Technology, 2005, 120(3-4):333-339.

Effect of tea saponin on rumen fermentation in vitro.[Reference: WebLink]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of tea Saponins (TS) on ruminal fermentation in vitro using gas syringes as incubators.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The TS were added at levels of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg against 200 mg mixture of corn meal and grass meal (1/1, w/w) in rumen fluid. In vitro gas production (GP) was recorded and methane concentration was determined at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h incubation. After 24 h, the incubation was stopped and the inoculants were determined for pH, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), protozoa counts and microbial protein yield. The GP was increased with the increasing level of TS except 8 mg at 24 h, which kept little change from that of the control. Methane concentration was decreased at all levels of TS at each incubation time. At 24 h incubation, inclusion with 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg of TS decreased methane concentration by 13, 22, 25 and 26%, respectively. The pH of ruminal fluid was slightly lower at 4 and 6 mg TS, but all values were in the normal range. Ammonia-N concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.01) when the TS were included. Concentrations of individual and total VFAs were not significantly effected by TS addition. The TS significantly inhibited the protozoa growth in ruminal fluid (P < 0.01). At 24 h incubation, protozoa counts were reduced by 19, 25, 45 and 79%, respectively at levels of 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg of TS compared to that in control. The microbial protein was enhanced with the TS addition except 2 mg level, and reached 1.92, 2.36 and 2.61 mg/mL with addition of 4, 6 and 8 mg TS, compared to 1.50 mg/mL in control.
CONCLUSIONS:
It is suggested that TS could modify the rumen fermentation and inhibit the release of methane and ammonia, which may be beneficial for improving nutrient utilization and animal growth.

Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1999, 47(12):1759-1764.

Bioactive saponins and glycosides. XV. Saponin constituents with gastroprotective effect from the seeds of tea plant, Camellia sinensis L. var. assamica Pierre, cultivated in Sri Lanka: structures of assamsaponins A, B, C, D, and E.[Reference: WebLink]

The Saponin fraction from the seeds of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis L. var. assamica PIERRE cultivated in Sri Lanka, was found to show a potent protective effect on gastric mucosal lesions induced by ethanol in rats.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Nine new acylated polyhydroxyoleanene-type triterpene oligoglycosides called assamSaponins A-I were isolated from the active Saponin fraction together with three known Saponins, theaSaponin E(1) and E(2) and camelliaSaponin B(1). The structures of assamSaponins A-E were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.
CONCLUSIONS:
TheaSaponin E(1) exhibited potent gastroprotective activity.