Checklist of African Soapy Saponin—Rich Plants for Possible Use in Communities’ Response to Global Pandemics

Abstract

Plants that exhibit foaming properties when agitated in aqueous solutions are commonly referred to as soapy plants, and they are used in different communities for washing, bathing, and hair shampooing. The frothing ability of these plants is attributed to saponins which are also well-documented to possess antimicrobial attributes. In the light of COVID-19, soap and hand hygiene have taken center stage. The pandemic has also revealed the low access to running water and commercial soaps in many marginalized and poor communities to the detriment of global health. Thus, soapy plants, either in their natural form or through incorporation in commercial products, may be a relevant additional weapon to assist communities to improve hand hygiene and contribute to curbing COVID-19 and other communicable infections. This review paper was compiled from a review of literature that was published between 1980 and 2020. We found 68 plant species, including those which are already used as traditional soaps. Our findings support the potential use of extracts from soapy plants because of their putative viricidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal activities for use in crude home-based formulations and possibly for developing natural commercial soap products.

Southern African Soap Plants and Screening of Selected Phytochemicals and Quantitative Analysis of Saponin Content

“…Previous studies have shown that plant part, tissue type, age, physiological state, and genetic profiles can affect the concentration of chemical constituents in plants, including saponins. Furthermore, the quantifiable amount of saponins also depends on the solvent used in the extraction [101].…”

Diabetes Prevention and Measures to Ensuring a Healthy Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and after

“…Bathing regularly, preferably twice a day (morning and night), with antiseptic soap and clean running water and regular washing of clothes with germ-killing detergents may kill SARS-CoV-2. 77) Regular dental hygiene during this pandemic and later is imperative; people with periodontal disease may be at an increased risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 than the general population are. 78) A potential relationship between periodontal disease and COVID-19 has been established through two routes.…”

“…During this pandemic, body and skin hygiene has been crucial. Bathing regularly, preferably twice a day (morning and night), with antiseptic soap and clean running water and regular washing of clothes with germ-killing detergents may kill SARS-CoV-2 [ 77 ].…”

Detection of saponin in underutilized Indonesian Sapindaceae at Cibodas Botanic Gardens

“…Saponin is a secondary metabolite distributed in more than one hundred families of vascular plants (Kunatsa & Katerere, 2021;Rai et al, 2021). The different quantities of saponin may be isolated from various parts of plants (Kunatsa & Katerere, 2021).…”

“…Saponin is a secondary metabolite distributed in more than one hundred families of vascular plants (Kunatsa & Katerere, 2021;Rai et al, 2021). The different quantities of saponin may be isolated from various parts of plants (Kunatsa & Katerere, 2021). The utilization of plant-derived saponins should be considered, as their excellence of being safe and environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and renewable, as well as their pharmaceutical effects (Wisetkomolmat et al, 2019).…”