Sapindus saponaria L. (= S. mukorossi Gaertn.)

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 155-156

Sapindus saponaria L. (= S. mukorossi Gaertn.)

Names.

Myanmar: magyi-bauk. English: false dogwood, jaboncillo, soapberry, soapnut.

Range.

Tropical America, North India. In Myanmar, found in Magway.

Uses.

Fruit: Used as treatment for epilepsy. Fruit and Seed: Used to treat skin diseases.

Notes.

In areas of the world where the plant is present, the fruit is used as soap ( Perry 1980). In India the fruit is used an emetic and expectorant, for epilepsy, excessive salivation, and chlorosis; in China and Taiwan the flowers are a used for conjunctivitis and other eye diseases, a lotion made from the nuts is said to cause freckles and tan to disappear, the kernel is used to correct fetid breath and gum boils as well as to prevent tooth decay, a solution of macerated bark is used to wash the hairy parts of the body to kill lice and other vermin, and the seeds serve as a laxative and a decoction is taken as an expectorant (they are also used as a fish poison and insecticide) ( Perry 1980). The medicinal uses of this species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991). Medicinal uses of this species in China are discussed in Duke and Ayensu (1985).

A 22% physiologically active saponin has been extracted from the plant. The fruit is the soap nut, containing a toxic saponin ( Perry 1980).

References.

Nordal (1963), Perry (1980).