Isolation and properties of saponins from Madhuca butyracea seeds.

The chemical composition of defatted seed flour of Madhuca butyracea was studied. The flour contains
carbohydrates (45.7%), proteins (27.4%), and saponins (10.4%) as major constituents. The saponins
were extracted with 80% (v/v) ethanol and isolated by a modified Wall's procedure. They were resolved
into five compounds on thin-layer chromatography. Acid hydrolysis and soil bacterial hydrolysis yielded
two different genins as evidenced by gas chromatography and the sugars xylose, arabinose, glucose, and
rhamnose as identified by paper chromatography. Resolution of the total saponins on silica gel column
using increasing ratios of methanol in chloroform resulted in the isolation of two compounds, saponins
A and B. The LDN and LD, values to guppy fish (Lebistes reticulatus) were 11 and 14 ppm, respectively.
The results suggest the potential usefulness of these saponins in piscicidal preparations and also in
shampoos and other toiletry preparations.