Medicinal Plants of the Genus Sapindus (sapindaceae) - a Review of Their Botany, Phytochemistry, Biological Activity and Traditional Uses

Sapindus is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the Sapindaceae family 1, . The genus comprises three major species: The American spices, Sapindus saponaria and two Asian species, Sapindus mukorossi and Sapindus trifoliatus. The American species Sapindus saponaria is popularly known as western soapberry, cherrioni, jaboncillo, sabao-de-macaco, saboeiro, saboneteiro, fruta de sabao, sabao-de-soldado and grows on clay soils and on dry limestone uplands from southwestern Missouri to Louisiana, and westward through Oklahoma and Texas to southern Colorado, New Mexico, southern Arizona, northern Mexico and Brazilian Amazon region . Asian species, Sapindus mukorossi and Sapindus trifoliatus are known as soapnut, soapberry, washnut, reetha, aritha, dodan, doadni and flourishes well in deep clay loamy soil with an annual rainfall of 150-200 mm. Sapindus mukorossi is widely distributed in upper reaches of IndoGangetic plains, Shivaliks and sub Himalayan tracts at altitudes from 200 m to 1500 m, while Sapindus trifoliatus is commonly found in the Western Ghats and plains of South India 4, .