Antiinflammatory and antioxidant property of saponins of tea [Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze] root extract.

Two groups of saponins, TS-1 and TS-2, isolated from tea root extract (TRE) were tested for antiinflammatory and in vitro antioxidant activity. Both TS-1 and TS-2 inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. The antioxidant activity of these compounds was evaluated using the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. The study indicated that the previously observed antitumour activity of TRE might be mediated through scavenging of free radicals by saponins and their antiinflammatory activity.