The plant is native to Europe and Asia, and has been naturalized in North America. Worldwide, soapwort is now a popular garden plant, but commercial cultivation takes place mainly in China, Iran and Turkey. Drug imports also originate from these countries.
Herbal medicine use
In herbal medicine, the dried roots and rhizomes of the plant (Saponariae rubrae radix) are used. Less commonly, the aerial parts of the plant are used.
Characteristics of soapwort
Soapwort is a perennial plant up to 80 cm high, which likes to grow along rivers and in sparse riparian forests. The rootstock has numerous long stolons.
The stems bear opposite, elongated leaves and pale pink flowers at the tips, which are in panicle-like inflorescences.
What is the origin of the name “soapwort”?
The crushed roots develop dense foam when rubbed in water, which is why soapwort was once used as a soap substitute and detergent. The Latin name “Saponaria” is derived from “sapo”, meaning “soap”.
Soap roots as a medicine
The drug material consists of the round root pieces, about 3-10 mm thick. These are reddish brown on the outside, in cross-section you can see the bright white bark and inside the lemon-yellow wood body.
Soap root does not emit a particularly typical odor. The taste of the root material is bitter-sweet at first and then changes to a scratchy taste.