Abstract: Method on extraction and purification of tea saponin by using anhydrous alcohol as solvent and cholesterol as purifying agent was reported. Tea seed powder was treated with acetone to remove tea oil followed by extracting tea saponin with alcohol. The crude product was purified by Soxhlet extraction with cholesterol (cholesterol tea saponin 0.75:1) to obtain tea saponin of over 98.5% purity.

Key words: tea saponin, purification, anhydrous alcohol, cholesterol