21Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are persistent organic compounds of major concern 22 that tend to accumulate in the environment, threatening ecosystems and health. Brownfields 23 represent an important tank for PAHs and require remediation. 24Researches to develop bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques are being conducted as 25 alternatives to environmentally aggressive, expensive and often disruptive soil remediation 26 strategies. 27The objectives of the present study were to investigate the potential of saponins (natural 28 surfactants) as extracting agents and as bioremediation enhancers on an aged-contaminated soil. 29Two experiments were conducted on a brownfield soil containing 15 PAHs. In a first 30 experiment, soil samples were extracted with saponins solutions (0; 1; 2; 4 and 8 g.L -1 ). In a 31 second experiment conducted in microcosms (28°C), soil samples were incubated for 14 or 28 32 days in presence of saponins (0; 2.5 and 5 mg.g -1 ). CO 2 emissions were monitored throughout 33 the experiment. After the incubation, dehydrogenase activity was measured as an indicator of 34 microbiological activity and residual PAHs were determined. In both experiments PAHs were 35 determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Fluorimetric Detection. 36The 4 g.L -1 saponins solution extracted significantly more acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene, 37 anthracene, and pyrene than water. PAHs remediation was not enhanced in presence of saponins 38 compared to control samples after 28 days. However CO 2 emissions and dehydrogenase 39 activities were significantly more important in presence of saponins, suggesting no toxic effect 40 of these surfactants towards soil microbiota. 41