Soap bark

Soap bark, also known as Panama bark, consists of the dried, cut bark of the trunks of the soap bark tree (Quillaja saponaria), which has been largely stripped of cork and outer bark. This belongs to the rose family. The soap bark tree is native to Chile, Bolivia and Peru. It is cultivated in southern Europe.

Quality listed in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. 10).

ESCOP: not processed

HMPC: not processed

Commission E: not processed

Herbal medicine: Expectorant due to the saponin content, in Chile internally as a cough remedy, externally for scalp diseases: dandruff, seborrhea, hair loss. Formerly also used for chronic ulcers, eczema of the extremities and foul-smelling sweat. no proven efficacy.

Soap bark contains about 10 % saponins of the triterpene type, the main fraction being quillajasaponin-21, as well as tannins, calcium oxalate and starch. These saponins consist of a large number of different bisdesmoids (see saponins below). The most important aglycon of these saponins is quillajaic acid.

Soap bark is used cosmetically and medicinally in soaps, especially in hair shampoos, also as an expectorant. Furthermore, local treatments of psoriasis, seborrheic eczema and scalp eczema are carried out with the extractum fluidum. A tincture of soap bark and alcohol is a component of Liquor carbonis detergens. Furthermore, components of soap bark are used as adjuvants in various vaccines (see below). Vaccines (see below ISCOM; ISCOMATRIX).

In case of overdose stomach pain, diarrhea, gastrointestinal complaints.

The drug is considered to be the dried bark. A tincture is produced from dried bark by extraction.

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3. Naknukool S et al. (2011) Stimulating macrophage activity in mice and humans by oral administration of quillaja saponin. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem75:1889-1893
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8. http://www.pharmakobotanik.de/systematik/6_droge/quilla-c.htm