288
J. Ma et al.
10.4.5 Utilization of Theasaponin from the Processed
Camellia Oleifera Residues
Theasaponin is a high-performance nonionic natural surfactant agent. It has distinctive surfactivities such as emulsification, dispersion, wetting, decontamination,
foaming, and foam stabilization. The deep processed products of theasaponin that
have been developed and applied to the industry include tea saponin paraffin wax
emulsifying agent, bubble stabilizer and foam stabilizer for the aerated concrete
industry, theasaponin and shampoo, pretreatment agent for textile printing and dyeing, foam stabilization agents in beer production, anti-friction agent in machinery
industry, etc. In the meanwhile, theasaponin also has a medicinal effect on inhibiting tumor and liver fibrosis. Theasaponin, however, has a destructive effect on an
animal’s erythrocyte, resulting in Hemolysis. The activity level is measured by the
maximum dilution that brings about hemolysis, as is noted, the haemolytic index.
The hemolytic property of theasaponin is much lower than that of Sasanqua saponin,
but is equivalent to tea leaf saponin and Camellia saponin. The hemolysis index
of Sasanqua saponin is at 1,000,000 while the hemolysis index of theasaponin, tea
leaf saponin, and Camellia saponin is at 100,000. Theasaponin produces hemolysis
effects only on erythrocyte (including red blood cells of nucleated fish blood, chicken
blood and non-nucleated human blood), but has little effect on leucocyte. Therefore,
theasaponin can cause a toxic effect on fish, but not on shrimps. Its hemolysis mechanism is believed to be an outcome induced by theasaponin that shall cause changes
in the permeability of cytomembrane containing cholesterol. Initially, it destroys the
cell membrane, and then leads to cytoplasmic extravasation, and ultimately disintegrates the entire red blood cell. The premise of the dissolubility is that theasaponin
should be in direct contact with blood; therefore it is nontoxic when taken orally by
people and livestock.
China’s tea-oil cakes dregs resources are abundant and have great potential for
industrial utilization. The application of theasaponin is of great practical significance
and has broad prospects. By adopting certain reasonable extraction and purification
process, the theasaponin with high output and good purity can be obtained. The
extracted and purified theasaponin can be used in industrial and agricultural fields,
and the Camellia oleifera cake dregs can be turned into something useful, alluded as
“Trash to Treasure” with good economic value. In the meantime, since theasaponin
is a product from nature, it has no adverse effects on plant production and is easily
degraded in the open environment. Theasaponin is nontoxic to humans or livestock,
and has good environmental compatibility. The characteristics of theasaponin lay a
good foundation for its broad application and development prospects. At present, the
extraction of theasaponin from tea-oil cake dregs now faces the following problems:
the purity rate of industrialized theasaponin is not high, the purification technology
needs to be improved, the extraction cost needs to be reduced to a reasonable level;
the basic theory of structure–function relationship and activity mechanism of theasaponin have not been studied in detail. In this regard, it is necessary to put more
J. Ma et al.
10.4.5 Utilization of Theasaponin from the Processed
Camellia Oleifera Residues
Theasaponin is a high-performance nonionic natural surfactant agent. It has distinctive surfactivities such as emulsification, dispersion, wetting, decontamination,
foaming, and foam stabilization. The deep processed products of theasaponin that
have been developed and applied to the industry include tea saponin paraffin wax
emulsifying agent, bubble stabilizer and foam stabilizer for the aerated concrete
industry, theasaponin and shampoo, pretreatment agent for textile printing and dyeing, foam stabilization agents in beer production, anti-friction agent in machinery
industry, etc. In the meanwhile, theasaponin also has a medicinal effect on inhibiting tumor and liver fibrosis. Theasaponin, however, has a destructive effect on an
animal’s erythrocyte, resulting in Hemolysis. The activity level is measured by the
maximum dilution that brings about hemolysis, as is noted, the haemolytic index.
The hemolytic property of theasaponin is much lower than that of Sasanqua saponin,
but is equivalent to tea leaf saponin and Camellia saponin. The hemolysis index
of Sasanqua saponin is at 1,000,000 while the hemolysis index of theasaponin, tea
leaf saponin, and Camellia saponin is at 100,000. Theasaponin produces hemolysis
effects only on erythrocyte (including red blood cells of nucleated fish blood, chicken
blood and non-nucleated human blood), but has little effect on leucocyte. Therefore,
theasaponin can cause a toxic effect on fish, but not on shrimps. Its hemolysis mechanism is believed to be an outcome induced by theasaponin that shall cause changes
in the permeability of cytomembrane containing cholesterol. Initially, it destroys the
cell membrane, and then leads to cytoplasmic extravasation, and ultimately disintegrates the entire red blood cell. The premise of the dissolubility is that theasaponin
should be in direct contact with blood; therefore it is nontoxic when taken orally by
people and livestock.
China’s tea-oil cakes dregs resources are abundant and have great potential for
industrial utilization. The application of theasaponin is of great practical significance
and has broad prospects. By adopting certain reasonable extraction and purification
process, the theasaponin with high output and good purity can be obtained. The
extracted and purified theasaponin can be used in industrial and agricultural fields,
and the Camellia oleifera cake dregs can be turned into something useful, alluded as
“Trash to Treasure” with good economic value. In the meantime, since theasaponin
is a product from nature, it has no adverse effects on plant production and is easily
degraded in the open environment. Theasaponin is nontoxic to humans or livestock,
and has good environmental compatibility. The characteristics of theasaponin lay a
good foundation for its broad application and development prospects. At present, the
extraction of theasaponin from tea-oil cake dregs now faces the following problems:
the purity rate of industrialized theasaponin is not high, the purification technology
needs to be improved, the extraction cost needs to be reduced to a reasonable level;
the basic theory of structure–function relationship and activity mechanism of theasaponin have not been studied in detail. In this regard, it is necessary to put more