'Quillaja Saponaria' definitions:
Definition of 'Quillaja Saponaria'
From: GCIDE
- Quillaia bark \Quil*la"ia bark`\ (Bot.) The bark of a rosaceous tree (Quillaja Saponaria), native of Chile. The bark is finely laminated, and very heavy with alkaline substances, and is used commonly by the Chileans instead of soap. Also called soap bark. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Quillaja saponaria'
From: GCIDE
- Saponin \Sap"o*nin\, n. [L. sapo, -onis soap: cf. F. saponine.] (Chem.) A poisonous glucoside found in many plants, as in the root of soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), in the bark of soap bark (Quillaja saponaria), etc. It is extracted as a white amorphous powder, which produces a soapy lather in solution, and produces a local anaesthesia. It is used as a detergent and for emulsifying oils. Formerly called also struthiin, quillaiin, senegin, polygalic acid, etc. By extension, any one of a group of related bodies of which saponin proper is the type. [1913 Webster + PJC]