Sapindus
| Sapindus | |
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| Sapindus marginatus shrubs | |
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| Genus: | Sapindus |
| Type species | |
| Sapindus saponaria L., 1753[1]
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| Species | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Dittelasma Hook.f.[2] | |
Sapindus is a genus of about five to twelve species of shrubs and small trees in the Lychee family, Sapindaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions in both the Old World and New World. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. Common names include soapberry and soapnut, both names referring to the use of the fruit pulp to make soap.
The leaves are alternate, 15–40 cm (5.9–15.7 in) long, pinnate, with 14-30 leaflets, the terminal leaflet often absent. The flowers form in large panicles, each flower small, creamy white. The fruit is a small leathery-skinned drupe 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter, yellow ripening blackish, containing one to three seeds.
Soapberries contain saponins which are a natural surfactant. They have been used for washing for thousands of years by various peoples, such as the Native Americans.[3] Because of their appeal as a natural and ecologically friendly alternative to synthetic surfacants, soapberries are being considered for commercial use in cosmetics and detergents as well as many other products.[4]
Uses
Soap nuts have historically been used in folk remedies as a mucolytic agent[5], emetic[6], contraceptive[7], and for treatment of excessive salivation[5], epilepsy[5][8], and to treat chlorosis[5]. The effectiveness of some of these folk-remedy treatments have not been subject to extensive scientific scrutiny. However, modern scientific medical research has investigated the use of soap nuts in treating migraines.[6][8]
Investigation of the contraceptive capability of plant saponins have shown some spermicidal capacity for certain extracts.[7][9] While the Sapindus saponins have not been proven be as effective as more commonly used spermicides it has been shown that they are less irritating than chemical alternatives. [10]
Soap nuts, such as those of Sapindus mukorossi, are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soap nuts have gentle insecticidal properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp.
Sapindus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) species including Endoclita malabaricus.
Species
The number of species is disputed between different authors, particularly in North America where between one and three species are accepted.
- Sapindus delavayi (China, India)
- Sapindus detergens (syn. var. Soapnut, Ritha)
- Sapindus drummondii (syn. S. saponaria var. drummondii) Western Soapberry (southwestern United States, Mexico)
- Sapindus emarginatus Vahl (Southern Asia)
- Sapindus marginatus - Florida Soapberry (Florida to South Carolina); included in S. saponaria by some authors.
- Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. - Indian Soapberry (Northern India East to the Himalayas)
- Sapindus oahuensis Hillebr. ex Radlk. - Lonomea (Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, Hawaii)
- Sapindus rarak DC. (Southeast Asia)
- Sapindus saponaria L. - Wingleaf Soapberry (southeastern United States, Caribbean, island of Hawaiʻi, Central and South America)
- Sapindus tomentosus (China)
- Sapindus trifoliatus L. - South India Soapnut or Three-leaf Soapberry (Southern India, Pakistan)
- Sapindus vitiensis A.Gray (American Samoa, Samoa, Fiji)[11]
References
- ^ "Sapindus L." TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- ^ "Sapindus L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
- ^ Austin, Daniel F. (2004). Florida Ethnobotany. CRC Press. pp. 601–603. ISBN 9780849323324.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Stoffels, Karin (2008). "Soap Nut Saponins Create Powerful Natural Surfactant". Personal Care Magazine. Jeen International Corporation.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c d P. C. Maiti; S. Roy; and A. Roy (November 1968). "Chemical investigation of Indian soapnut, Sapindus laurifolius Vahl". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. Vol. 24, no. 11. Birkhäuser Basel. p. 1091. doi:10.1007/BF02147773. ISSN (Print) 1420-9071 (Online) 1420-682X (Print) 1420-9071 (Online). Retrieved 16 August 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check|issn=value (help) - ^ a b D.K. Arulmozhi; A. Veeranjaneyulu; S.L. Bodhankar; S.K. Arora (17 February 2004). "Pharmacological studies of the aqueous extract of Sapindus trifoliatus on central nervous system: possible antimigraine mechanisms". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol. 97, no. 3. Elsevier Ireland Ltd. (published 8 February 2005). pp. 491–496. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.12.012. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ a b S. Garg, G. Doncel, S. Chabra, S.N. Upadhyay and G.P. Talwar, Synergistic spermicidal activity of neem seed extract, reetha saponins and quinine hydrochloride. Contraception 50 (1994), pp. 185–190.
- ^ a b D.K. Arulmozhi; A. Veeranjaneyulu; S.L. Bodhankar; S.K. Arora (March 2005). "Effect of Sapindus trifoliatus on hyperalgesic in vivo migraine models". Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. Vol. 38, no. 3. pp. 469–475. doi:10.1590/S0100-879X2005000300019. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ B.S. Setty, V.P. Kamboj and N.M. Khanna, Screening of Indian Plants for biological activity Part. VII. Spermicidal activity of Indian plants. Indian J Exp Biol 15 (1977), pp. 231–232.
- ^ P. Ojha; J. P. Maikhuri; G. Gupta (August 2003). "Effect of spermicides on Lactobacillus acidophilus in vitro — nonoxynol-9 vs. Sapindus saponins". Contraception. Vol. 68, no. 2. Elsevier Science Inc. (published 27 August 2003). pp. 135–138. doi:10.1016/S0010-7824(03)00138-0. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ "Sapindus vitiensis A. Gray". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
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