saponin

[ sap-uh-nin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a group of amorphous glycosides of terpenes and steroids, occurring in many plants, characterized by an ability to form emulsions and to foam in aqueous solutions, and used as detergents.

saponin

/ ˈsæpənɪn /

noun

1. any of a group of plant glycosides with a steroid structure that foam when shaken and are used in detergents

saponin

/ săp′ə-nĭn,sə-pō′- /

1. Any of various plant glucosides that form soapy lathers when mixed and agitated with water. They are used in detergents, foaming agents, and emulsifiers. Some saponins, such as digitalis, affect the heart and have been used as medicines and arrow poisons by indigenous peoples of Africa and South America.

Word History and Origins

Origin of saponin¹

1825–35; < French saponine < Latin sāpōn- (stem of sāpō ) soap + French -ine -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of saponin¹

C19: from French saponine, from Latin sāpō soap

Example Sentences

The saponin compounds in the tea seed meal may also wash into waterways and harm even more species.

From Seattle Times

However, the Black Snake Distillery has developed a way of extracting the saponins after harvesting the plant's spiky arms.

From BBC

The trick with this approach is the addition of an “adjuvant”—an additive that “soups up” the immune system’s response—made from saponin, a compound derived from the bark of the Chilean soapbark tree.

From Scientific American

Then Ward’s new high-resolution images—showing tiny particles studded with spike proteins, with honeycomblike saponins floating beside them—flashed on dozens of people’s screens.

From Science Magazine

Asterisk above the top panel indicates the approximate position of TSARL1. d, The saponin biosynthetic pathway, showing enzymes that catalyse each step of the pathway and the quinoa gene ID for genes encoding each enzyme.

From Nature