Sapindus

The first soaps were probably the saps of plants such as Chloro-galum pomeridianum, the roots of which can be crushed in water to form a lather. Other plants, such as soapbark (Quillaja saponaria), soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi), and soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) also contain the same main ingredient, a compound called saponin, which forms the foamy lather. 

Hess, H. D., Beuret, R. A., Lotscher, M., Hindrichsen, 1. K., Machmiiller, A., Carulla, J. E., Lascano, C. E., and Kreuzer, M. (2004). Ruminal fermentation, methanogenesis and nitrogen utilization of sheep receiving tropical grass hay-concentrate diets offered with Sapindus saponaria fruits and Cratylia argentea foliage. Anim. Sci. 79,177-189. 

The family Sapindaceae consists of 140 genera and 1500 species of trees widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. Classic examples of Sapindaceae are the fruit trees Nephelium lappaceum L. and Litchi chinensis Sonn., which provide rambutan and litchi, respectively. Chemically Sapindaceae are well known to abound with saponins and tannins. An example of ornamental Sapindaceae is Koelreuteria paniculata L., or golden rain tree, cultivated in temperate regions. The berries of Sapindus saponaria L., were used as soap by South American Indians, hence the origin of the word Sapindus from sapo and Indus or the soap of the Indies. 

Arulmozhi DK, Veeranjaneyulu A, Bodhankar SL, Arora SK. Pharmacological studies of the aqueous extract of Sapindus trifoliatus on central nervous system possible ant migraine mechanisms. J Ethnopharmacol 2005 97 491-496. 

Kuo YH, Huang HC, Yang Kuo LM, et al. New dammarane-type saponins from the galls of Sapindus mukorossi. J Agric Food Chem 2005 53 4722-4727. 

Takagi K, Park EH, Kato H. Anti-inflammatory activities of hederagenin and crude saponin isolated from Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1980 28 1183-1188. 

Yata N, Sugihara N, Yamajo R, et al. Enhanced small intestinal absorption of P-lactam antibiotics in rats in presence of monodesmosides from pericaps of Sapindus mukurossi (Ennmei-hi). J Pharmacobio-Dyn 1986 9 211-217. 

Sapindus mukorossi Gaertner Wu Huan Shu (Bodhi seeds) (flower, fruit, seed, root) Saponin, mukorosside.60-450 For conjuctivitis, eye diseases, removes freckles and suntan. 

Sapindus mukorossi Gaertner Acanthopanax gracilistylus, A. spinosum Miq. 

Yata, N., et al. 1985. Enhanced rectal absorption of (3-lactam antibiotics in rat by monodesmosides isolated from pericarps of Sapindus mukurossi (Enmei-hi). J Pharmacobiodyn 8 1041. 

The soap nut (sapindus) is an organic laundry detergent, originally from India and Nepal. The shell of the soap nut contains a sticky substance called saponin, which has the same properties as normal soap. When the nutshells come into contact with water, it creates a mild soap solution. See http //sapin dus.org and www.maggiespureland.com. Nowadays these soap nuts are also available in liquid form see www.maggies pureland.com/liquid.html. 

An acyclic sesquiterpene glycoside, mukurozioside Ilb (13), which was identified previously fi om Sapindus mukurossi Gaertn. (Sapindaceae) [68], was isolated fi om the fruits of Sapindus rarak DC. (Sapindaceae) from Indonesia (6.8% w/w yield) [47]. The sweetness of this compoimd has been rated as about the same as that of 2% sucrose by a small taste panel [47]. This is the first acyclic sesquiterpene glycoside fi-om a plant source to have been determined to have a sweet taste. Altiiough its sweetness potency is equivalent to those of the bulk sweeteners, this... 

---