Saponins: What Are They?

What are saponins? The short scientific answer is “any of the class of steroid and terpenoid glycosides that typically makes foam when added to water and shaken.” Another website describes them as “a toxic compound that is present in many plants examples of which are used in detergents and foam fire extinguishers.” Sounds yummy, right?! Well, there’s a lot more to be said about them that would better explain how useful they really are, and even quite edible in the right situation. However, it would be easier to understand what they are if we first look at where they are.

Where Are Saponins?

Saponins are usually plant-based. They are found in most legumes, such as beans, peas and lentils. Other examples of common foods containing saponins are beets, bean sprouts, asparagus, onions, quinoa, and even in green tea and red wine. So, if you’ve ever eaten green beans or sweet peas, or enjoyed a cold glass of red wine or a warm mug of green tea, you’ve consumed saponins. That sounds much better than digesting a detergent or slurping up a steroid, right? Yes, saponins in large amounts can be toxic to humans as well as animals and they can have a very bitter taste.

The good news is that most vegetables and herbs that contain saponins only have them in minimal amounts. Knowing this fact prohibits any crafty kids from using it as an excuse for not eating their vegetables or allows adults a tiny reason for enjoying an occasional glass of wine.

What Are Saponins?

Now let’s look at the answer to the original question – what are saponins? The simple answer to that question is that they are a plant-based steroid. And although the word “steroid” can have a negative connotation, not all steroids are bad. In fact, natural steroids can be quite beneficial. These natural steroids are almost always water soluble and fat soluble which adds to their beneficial qualities which are expanded upon in a separate article.

The word saponin comes from the Latin word for soap – “sapo”. Plants that contain saponins may have these steroidal compounds in their flowers or fruits, but they may be found in a plant’s leaves or roots also. One such example is the yucca plant, a spiny cactus-type plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Commonly called the soapwort plant due to the high concentration of the soap-like saponins in its roots, and to a lesser extent in its leaves and flowers, the yucca plant has other benefits including resveratrol as well. However, its most well-known component is its sudsy saponins.

Saponin Summary

Saponins, another beneficial gift from nature, can be found in many types of plants, many of which are consumable. In large amounts, saponins can be bitter tasting and toxic but in smaller amounts can be quite beneficial. For more information about a natural source of saponins and products that contain these unique compounds go to NaturalYuccaProducts.com.