Sapunjača (Saponaria officinalis L.)
Saponaria officinalis (Caryophyllaceae)
Common names:Soapwort; Soaproot; Yebe Di Savon; Saponaria; Sabon-So; Sabunotu
Reference:
Steinmetz, E.F. 1957. codex Vegetabilis. Published by the author, Amsterdam.
Uphof, J.C. Th. 1968. Dictionary of economic plants. 2nd ed. Verlag von J. Cramer.
Font Query, P. 1979. Plantas Medicinales el Dioscorides Renovado. Editorial Labor, S.A. Barcelona. 5th Ed.
Lost Crops of the Incas.
ANON. 1978. List of Plants. Kyoto Herbal Garden, Parmacognostic Research Lab., Central Research Division, Takeda Chem. Industries, Ltd., Ichijoji, Sakyoku, Kyoto, Japan.
Krochmal, Arnold and Connie. 1973. A guide to the medicinal plants of the United States. Quadrangle/The N.Y. Times Book Co.
Lewis and Elvin-Lewis, Medical Botany, ca 1977
Hartwell, J.L. 1967-71. Plants used against cancer. A survey. Lloydia 30-34.
Use
Alterative, bactericide, depurative, detergent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, gout, gout, hepatitis, jaundice, laxative, poison, rheumatism, scrofula, shampoo, skin, soap, sore, sternutatory, stimulant, sudorific, syphilis, tumor, venereal,
Data by National Agricultural Library
-Description—A stout herbaceous perennial with a stem growing in the writer’s garden to 4 or 5 feet high. Leaves lanceolate, slightly elliptical, acute, smooth, 2 or 3 inches long and 1/3 inch wide. Large pink flowers, often double in paniculate fascicles; calyx cylindrical, slightly downy; five petals, unguiculate; top of petals linear, ten stamens, two styles; capsule oblong, one-celled, flowering from July till September. No odour, with a bitter and slightly sweet taste, followed by a persistent pungency and a numbing sensation in the mouth.
—Constituents—Constituents of the root, Saponin, also extractive, resin, gum, woody fibre, mucilage, etc.
Soapwort root dried in commerce is found in pieces 10 and 12 inches long, 1/12 inch thick, cylindrical, longitudinally wrinkled, outside light brown, inside whitish with a thick bark. Contains number of small white crystals and a pale yellow wood.
—Medicinal Action and Uses—A decoction cures the itch. Has proved very useful in jaundice and other visceral obstructions. For old venereal complaints it is a good cure specially where mercury has failed. It is a tonic, diaphoretic and alterative, a valuable remedy for rheumatism or cutaneous troubles resulting from any form of syphilis. It is also sternutatory. Should be very cautiously used owing to its saponin content.
Dose. – Decoction, 2 to 4 fluid ounces three or four times daily. Extract or the inspissated juice will be found equally efficacious: dose, 10 to 20 grains. As a sternutatory 2 to 6 grains. Fluid extract, 1/4 to 1 drachm.