Steinmetz:Quillaja

Quillaja saponaria (and other species)

Also known as (or relevant to) Quillaja saponaria (and other species) Family Rosaceae English Names Soap bark tree Panama bark tree Natural Habitat South America (Chile Peru Bolivia) Part(s) Used Cortex Quillajae (the inner bark)

Constituent(s) saponins (quillajic acid and quillaia-sapotoxin) starch oxalate of calcium sucrose bitter principle; the outer bark contains tannin and much colouring matter but no saponins and should be rejected Action expectorant diuretic detergent sternutatory toxic; used for washing clothes shampoos etc. In some countries the bark is employed in bronchitis etc. and for foam formation in soft drinks and beer