Sapindus is a genus of about thirteen species of
shrubs and small
trees in the
lychee family,
Sapindaceae and tribe
Sapindeae. It is native to warm
temperate to
tropical regions of the world. The genus includes both
deciduous and
evergreen species. Members of the genus are commonly known as soapberries[3] or soapnuts because the fruit pulp is used to make
soap. The generic name is derived from the
Latin words sapo, meaning "soap", and indicus, meaning "of
India".[4]
The
leaves are alternate, 15–40 cm (5.9–15.7 in) long,
pinnate (except in S. oahuensis, which has simple leaves), 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.
Uses
The drupes (soapnuts) contain
saponins, which have
surfactant properties, having been used for washing by ancient Asian and American peoples.[5][6] A number of other uses for Sapindus have also been reported such making arrows from the wood and decorative objects from the seeds.[7]
Folk medicine
Leaf and fruit extracts of Sapindus have historically been used in
folk remedies to treat various conditions.[8]
Insecticide
Sapindus species are used as food plants by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) species including Endoclita malabaricus. Kernel extracts of soapnut disrupt the activity of enzymes of larvae and pupae and inhibits the growth of the
mosquitoAedes aegypti, an important
vector of viral diseases.[9]
Dyeing agent
Soapnut is used as a dyeing agent for coloring the yarn of
Tussar silk and cotton.[10]
Species
The number of species is disputed between different authors, particularly in
North America where between one and three species are accepted. Plants of the World Online currently (February 2024) includes:[11]
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ab"GRIN Species Records of Sapindus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2010-11-01.