Anti-inflammatory effects of Camellia seed oil on zebrafish and RAW264.7 cells studied using an in vitro bioassay

Abstract

Camellia seed oil (CSO), extracted from Camellia seeds, contains numerous beneficial bioactive components. While the majority of produced CSO is utilized in food applications, its use in life sciences and health fields remains relatively limited. To expand its applications, this study investigated the potential anti-inflammatory activity of CSO and its underlying molecular mechanism through zebrafish and cellular models. The results demonstrated that CSO promotes neutrophil migration in zebrafish, inhibits oxidative damage occurrence, and enhances repair of damaged caudal fins. Furthermore, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, CSO suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation and prevented the reduction in phagocytic capacity. Additionally, analysis revealed that five-year stored Camellia seed oil (FYSCSO) exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activity compared to newly produced oil, which may be attributed to increased linoleic acid content and decreased oleic acid content. Mechanistic studies have shown that CSO possesses significant anti-inflammatory properties mediated through activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. This study advances understanding of CSO's biological functions and molecular mechanisms, providing foundational insights for its development in life and health applications.