Saponaria

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. 

Holtshausen, L., Chaves, A. V., Beauchemin, K. A., McGinn, S. M., McAllister, T. A., Odongo, N. E., Cheeke, P. R., and Benchaar, C. (2009). Feeding saponin-containing Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria to decrease enteric methane production in dairy cows. /. Dairy Sci. 92, 2809-2821. 

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. 

HENRY, M., RAHIER, A., TATON, M., Effect of gypsogenin 3,0-glucuronide pretreatment of Gypsophila paniculata and Saponaria officinalis cell suspension cultures on the activities of microsomal 2,3-oxidosqualene cycloartenol and amyrin cyclases, Phytochemistry, 1992,31,3855-3859. 

Cell suspension cultures of Gypsophila paniculata and Saponaria officinalis produce very closely related triterpenoid saponins. Pretreatment of cell suspension cultures of G. paniculata with gypsogenin 3,0-glucuxonide (a triterpenoid saponin precursor in G. paniculata) followed by administration of [ C] acetate resulted in a marked reduction in incorporation of radioactivity into saponins and their precursors, but not into sterols and steryl glycosides [26]. Measurements of OSC activities revealed that there was no effect of elicitor treatment on CS levels in either species, but in G. paniculata AS levels went down while in S. officinalis they increased. This suggests that in these two species OSCs are regulating steps in the isoprenoid pathway and control the flux to sterols and triter-penes. 

Quillaia Quillaja saponaria (Rosaceae) Quillaic acid... 

Saponaria officinalis L. S. vaccaria L. (Syn. Vaccaria segetalis) Wang Bu Liu Xing (Cow herb) (seed, root) Saponarin.65 This herb is contraindicated in pregnancy. For abscesses, furuncles, ulcers, scabies, mastitis, lymphangitis. Root is used to treat syphilis, glandular and chronic skin disease. 

Saponaria officinalis L., S. vaccaria L., Vaccaria segetalis (Neck.) Garcke Cassia torn L., C. occidentalis L. 

Hibiscus chinensis, H. syriacus, H. trionum, H. rhombifolius, Saponaria officinalis, S. vaccaria Uraria crinita, U. lagopodiodes... 

P. multiflorum, P. biflorum, Prunella vulgaris, Ranunculus ficaria, Saponaria officinalis, Solidago virgaurea, S. canadensis, Thymus vulgaris, capitatus, T. citriodorus, T praecox, T pulegiodes,... 

So H-S, et al. Effect of a novel saponin adjuvant derived from Quillaja saponaria on the immune response to recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen. Mol Cells 1996 7(2) 178 186. 

The saponins occur in the roots of many plants, notably the genus Saponaria, whose name derives from the Latin sapo, meaning soap, because of the latherlike reaction that occurs when parts of these plants are soaked in warm water. 

Saponins for beverage use are sourced from quillaia bark (Quillaia saponaria Molina) and the yuccas. Of the latter species, two main varieties are used in the United States for production of the water extract the Mohave yucca (Yucca mohavensis) and the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia). At the levels used these additives are colourless and tasteless the dried extract, however, possesses an acrid, astringent taste. Permitted limits are quoted in terms of the dry weight of the extract. In the European Union, subject to Directive 95/2/EC, quillaia is permitted only in non-alcoholic drinks, to a maximum level of 200 mg/1. 

Quillaia bark or soapbark is derived from the tree Quillaja saponaria (Rosaceae) and other Quillaja species found in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. The bark contains up to 10% saponins, a mixture known as commercial saponin , which is used for its detergent properties. Quillaia s surfactant properties are occasionally exploited in pharmaceutical preparations where it is used in the form of quillaia tincture as an emulsifying agent, particularly for fats, tars, and volatile oils. The bark contains a mixture of saponins which on hydrolysis liberates quillaic acid (Figure 5.62) as the aglycone, together with sugars, uronic acids, and acids from ester functions. 

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