saponin

saponin

 [sap´o-nin]

any of a group of glycosides widely distributed in the plant world; they are powerful surfactants, form durable foam when their watery solutions are shaken, and can dissolve erythrocytes even when highly diluted.

saponin

/sap·o·nin/ (sap´o-nin) any of a group of glycosides widely distributed in plants, which form a durable foam when their watery solutions are shaken, and which even in high dilutions dissolve erythrocytes.

saponin

(săp′ə-nĭn, sə-pō′-)

n.

Any of various plant glycosides that form soapy lathers when mixed and agitated with water, used in detergents, foaming agents, and emulsifiers.

saponin

[sap′ənin]

Etymology: L, sapo, soap

a soapy material found in some plants, especially soapwort (bouncing bet) and certain lilies. It is used in demulcent medications to provide a sudsy quality. Saponins can cause cell lysis (e.g., hemolysis). Natural saponins have largely been replaced by synthetic preparations.

saponin

a group of glycosides widely distributed in the plant world and characterized by (1) their property of forming durable foam when their watery solutions are shaken; this property may have importance in some plants in the development of frothy bloat in ruminants; (2) their ability to lyse erythrocytes even in high dilutions; and (3) their having the compound sapogenin as their aglycones.

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lithogenic s's

saponins in panicoid grasses (Panicum, Brachiaria) Agave lecheguilla, Narthecium ossifragum, Tribulus terrestris are probably responsible for causing crystal-associated cholangiohepatopathy and subsequent secondary photosensitization; this is suspected as the cause of photosensitization associated with other plants. Called also steroidal saponin.

steroidal saponin

see lithogenic saponins (above).