Camellia oil, which contains a high content of triterpene alcohol, is known for a series of bioactivities including anti-inflammation. Amyrins are recognized as high bioactivity of anti-inflammation. However, no comparative study on triterpene alcohols from camellia oil. In this study, four high content triterpene alcohols from camellia oil, namely β-amyrin, ψ-taraxasterol, parkeol, and butyrospermol were evaluated through lipopolysaccharide induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation. The results showed that butyrospermol exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity, surpassing that of β-amyrin. Characterization of signaling pathways showed that butyrospermol inhibited Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, suppressing the transcription of Tlr4, expression of p65, NF-κB inhibitor α (IκBα), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38, and the phosphorylation of p65, IκBα, ERK, and p38. The anti-inflammatory effect of butyrospermol was further validated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced mouse ear edema. The results in mouse showed that butyrospermol could inhibit the increase of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), p-JNK, p-p38, p-IκBα, and their corresponding mRNA levels. Our study provides new perspective on the anti-inflammatory role of different triterpene alcohols and explaining the bioactivity of camellia oil.

Germination as flexible pretreatment enhances oilseed processing. This study investigated whether germination changes the structure and processing performance of tree peony seed (TPS). Structurally, the number and fiber structure of oil bodies were increased and became more visible, and oil was more easily extracted after germinated. And sugars, proteins and lipids are main metabolic sequences of energy substances in TPS. Germination increased TPS's internal water freedom, causing total sugar content to rise initially and then decrease, while protein and oil contents peaked on 15 d at 24.02 g/100 g and 57 g/100 g, respectively. Moreover, glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids dominated the lipid metabolites of TPS, and germinated alter the expression of Diglyceride, Triglyceride, and Phosphatidylcholine. Tree peony seed oil exhibited elevated lipid concatenation post-germination, boasting 4130.74 mg/kg of phytosterols and 94.68% unsaturated fatty acids. Consequently, moderate germination enhanced the nutritional quality of TPS, with a 15-day germination period being optimal for its application as an oilseed in the production of superior nutritious oils.