Soapbark

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, Latin America, IN

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Bronchitis, Cardiodepressant, Detergent, Diuretic

Science studied: GALACTURONIC-ACID, SACCHAROSE, QUILLAIC-ACID, SAPONINS

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Rosaceae

Scientific name: Quillaja saponaria

Common names: Soapbark, Arbol de jabón, Murillo's-bark, Quillay, Quillay [Chile], chilenischer Seifenbaum, jabón de palo, kvillaja, quillaja, quillay, soapbark, soapbarktree, soapbush

POWO: 731377-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Turkey, Latin America, Elsewhere, IN.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Bronchitis
• Cardiodepressant
• Detergent
• Diuretic
• Expectorant
• Poison
• Shampoo
• Skin

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Turkey
• Latin America
• Elsewhere
• IN

Documented cultural uses

• Bronchitis
• Cardiodepressant
• Detergent
• Diuretic
• Expectorant
• Poison
• Shampoo
• Skin
• Soap
• Sternutatory
• Stimulant

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Bronchitis · Turkey · "
• Cardiodepressant · Latin America · "
• Detergent · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Expectorant · Turkey · "
• Expectorant · Elsewhere · "
• Expectorant · Latin America · "
• Poison · Turkey · "
• Shampoo · Elsewhere · "
• Shampoo · Latin America · "
• Skin · Elsewhere · "
• Soap · Turkey · "
• Soap · Elsewhere · "
• Soap · Latin America · "
• Sternutatory · Turkey · "
• Stimulant · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Quillaja saponaria fraction QS-18 as an adjuvant for liposomal seasonal influenza vaccines. · 2026 source ↗
• The Cinderella tree, <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> - A soap story. · 2025 source ↗
• The characterization of a rhamnosylated triterpenic saponin from <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> Mol. reveals novel adjuvant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiproliferative properties. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• GALACTURONIC-ACID
• SACCHAROSE
• QUILLAIC-ACID
• SAPONINS
• SUGAR
• CALCIUM-OXALATE
• GLUCURONIC-ACID
• GALACTOSE
• STARCH
• TANNIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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