Quillaja
Scientific Name(s): Quillaja saponaria Molina
Common Name(s): China bark, Murillo bark, Panama bark, Quillaja, Soap tree, Soapbark
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 22, 2024.
Clinical Overview
Use
No reliable clinical trials support use of quillaja for any indication. In traditional medicine, quillaja has been used topically to relieve scalp itchiness and dandruff and orally to relieve cough and bronchitis, although ingestion of large amounts of quillaja bark is not considered safe. Animal and/or in vitro studies have evaluated the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and cytotoxic effects of various components of quillaja.
Dosing
There is no clinical evidence supporting specific dosage recommendations for Q. saponaria.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Ingestion of large amounts of quillaja is not considered safe. A case report describes the development of rhinitis and asthma in a patient occupationally exposed to quillaja bark dust.
Toxicology
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), quillaja is permitted for use as a natural flavoring or substance to be used in conjunction with other flavors. It is likely safe when used in amounts found in food. Quillaja is toxic when ingested orally in large amounts. Severe toxic effects following ingestion of large doses of the bark include liver damage, gastric pain, diarrhea, hemolysis, respiratory failure, convulsions, and coma.
Scientific Family
- Rosaceae (rose)
Botany
Quillaja is a large evergreen tree that grows to 18 m by 6 m, with shiny, thick leaves.Roner 2010 Although quillaja is native to Chile and Peru, it is now widely cultivated in southern California. The generic name is derived from the Chilean word quillean, meaning "to wash," due to the bark's use as a cleansing aid. The bark has an acrid, astringent taste. The inner bark is separated from the cork and collected for commercial use.Leung 1980
History
In traditional medicine, quillaja has been used orally to relieve cough and bronchitis, and topically to relieve scalp itchiness and dandruff. The bark has been used in South America to aid in washing clothes. Quillaja extracts, in appropriate quantities, are considered safe for use in food, and are used as foaming agents in some carbonated beverages and cocktail mixes, typically in concentrations of approximately 0.01%.CFR 2019, ECFR 2019, Leung 1980 Saponins were first studied in 1925 as an adjuvant to enhance antibody response against diphtheria and tetanus. Saponins from Q. saponaria have been investigated for use as adjuvants in vaccinations, but use in clinical practice has been hindered by various limitations and toxicity.Ragupathi 2011
Chemistry
The first report of isolation of a quillaja saponin was in 1887.van Setten 1996 Quillaja contains about 10% saponins, and secondary metabolites contain a triterpene or steroidal nucleus linked to a sugar.Rocha 2012, van Setten 1996 These consist primarily of glycosides of quillaic acid (quillaja sapogenin [a mixture of acetylated triterpenoid oligoglycosides] and hydroxygypsogenin). The bark contains tannin, calcium oxalate, and numerous other components. One study analyzing the phenolic constituents of quillaja wood extracts found that (+)-piscidic acid was the major phenolic compound, representing 75% to 87% w/w of all phenolic compounds identified.Maier 2015
A highly purified saponin, designated QS-21, has been used as an adjuvant to enhance the activity of viral vaccines and is a combination of 2 structural isomers.Ragupathi 2011
Uses and Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory activity
Animal data
Quillaic acid derived from Q. saponaria demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity against arachidonic acid and phorbol ester–induced inflammation when applied topically to mouse ears.Rodriguez-Diaz 2011 In rats, orally administered saponins (100 mg/kg/day for 10 days) from the bark of Q. saponaria offered a hepatoprotective effect against iron overload involving a suppression of oxidative mechanisms.Ahmed Abdel-Reheim 2017
Antimicrobial effects
The use of saponins may produce viricidal activity through interaction of the viral envelope, causing destruction of the cell membrane and a loss of viral binding sites.Roner 2007
Animal and in vitro data
In mice, quillaja saponin enhanced immune response by stimulating macrophages.Naknukool 2011 In an in vitro study, saponins from Q. saponaria demonstrated activity against Trichomonas vaginalis, with maximum cytotoxicity noted at 0.025%.Rocha 2012 In another in vitro study, quillaja saponin extracts exerted antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and also demonstrated hemolytic activity.Hassan 2010
Quillaja extracts were also found to possess antiviral activity against cells infected with rotavirus and reovirus in an in vitro study. Specifically, these effects were noted at concentrations 1,000-fold lower than concentrations that demonstrate cytotoxicity. In addition, cells treated with quillaja were resistant to infection for 16 hours after removal of quillaja exposure. However, 24 hours after being removed from quillaja, infection rates were similar to those of untreated cells, demonstrating a lack of sustained effect after quillaja treatment.Roner 2007
In a separate in vitro study, Q. saponaria did not inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli strains, but instead increased multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli at quillaja concentrations between 6 and 12 mcg/mL. Quillaja also enhanced E. coli growth in the presence of antibiotics tested.Arabski 2012
Cancer
In vitro data
Q. saponaria fractions have cytotoxic activity against cancer cells in vitro but, because of their toxic effects, have been converted into stable nanoparticles for study. Two fractions have been used for particle formation: one with an acyl-chain was used to form "killing and growth-inhibiting" particles, and one without the acyl chain was used to formulate "blocking and balancing effect" particles.Hu 2010 In one in vitro study, "blocking and balancing effect" particles selectively induced caspase activity and apoptosis in a renal cell carcinoma cell line.Hassan 2013 In another in vitro study, "killing and growth-inhibiting" particles, as well as "blocking and balancing effect" particles, exerted cytotoxic effects against human leukemia cells. Specifically, the "killing and growth-inhibiting" particles demonstrated cytotoxic effects against 9 of 10 cells lines, while "blocking and balancing effect" particles demonstrated cytotoxic effects in only 1 of 10 cell lines.Hu 2010
Cholesterol-lowering effects
In vitro data
An in vitro digestion model found a cholesterol-lowering effect of dry, nonpurified quillaja extract via the formation of small aggregates. The effect was predominantly due to the saponins or polyphenols and, to a lesser degree, to the calcium content of the extract. The solubilization of saturated fatty acids, and similarly the unsaturated fatty acids, was entirely a result of the calcium ions present in the extract. No effect was found on monoglycerides.Vinarova 2015
Immunization adjuvant
The QS-21 saponin fraction from Q. saponaria has been studied extensively as an adjuvant in immunizations, particularly against cancer and infectious diseases.Gin 2011, Ragupathi 2011 Although saponins enhance antibody response and cytotoxic T-cell responses, their use in clinical practice is hindered by dose-limiting local and systemic toxicity, chemical instability in solutions with a pH of 7.4 or higher and in warmer temperatures, and limited availability from natural sources.Ragupathi 2011 Purity challenges also exist because composition can vary greatly.Gin 2011
Dosing
There is no clinical evidence supporting specific dosage recommendations for Q. saponaria.
Pregnancy / Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
A case report describes the development of rhinitis and asthma in a 24-year-old man with a history of asthma occupationally exposed to quillaja bark dust. The man reported wheezing, rhinorrhea, and itchy, watery eyes after 3 months of working at a factory that manufactured saponin dust. He noticed wheezing and dyspnea after exposure to raw bark dust, but only nasal symptoms after exposure to saponin dust. His symptoms improved on weekends and while on vacation. Skin testing was not completed for quillaja bark; however, total immunoglobulin E was markedly elevated at 2,000 units/mL (normal range, 10 to 250 units/mL). In addition, he developed asthma and anaphylaxis, necessitating epinephrine and intravenous steroids after a bronchial challenge test.Rocha 2012, Roner 2010
Toxicology
Quillaja is permitted by the FDA for use as a natural flavoring or substance to be used in conjunction with other flavors.CFR 2019, ECFR 2019, Maier 2015, Roner 2010 It is likely safe when used in amounts found in food.
Quillaja is toxic when ingested orally in large amounts. Severe toxic effects following ingestion of large doses of the bark include liver damage, gastric pain, diarrhea, hemolysis, respiratory failure, convulsions, and coma.Leung 1980, Montbriand 2005
References
Disclaimer
This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.
This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.
Further information
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