thumb|Pods and seeds
Saponaria officinalis is a common perennial plant from the family Caryophyllaceae. This plant has many common names, including common soapwort, bouncing-bet, There are about 20 species of soapworts altogether.
The scientific name Saponaria is derived from the Latin (stem ) meaning "soap", which, like its common name, refers to its utility in cleaning. From this same Latin root is derived the name of the toxic substances saponins found in many plants, including a specific saporin saponarin contained in the roots at levels up to 20 percent when the plant is flowering (Indian soapnuts contain only 15 percent). The flowers colouring likely reflects the chemical environment of saponarin. Saponins produce a lather when in contact with water. The epithet officinalis indicates its medicinal functions. It is a common host plant for some moth species, including the white-lined sphinx.
Saponaria officinalis native range extends throughout Europe, and in Asia to western Siberia. It grows in cool places at low or moderate elevations under hedgerows and along the shoulders of roadways. It can be found as a horticultural escape and noxious invasive in much of North America.
Description
thumb|left|Flowers, [[Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, Quebec, Canada]]
The plant possesses leafy, unbranched stems (often tinged with red). It grows in patches, attaining a height of . The broad, lanceolate, sessile leaves are opposite and between 4 and 12 cm long. Its sweetly scented flowers are radially symmetrical and pink, or sometimes white. Each of the five flat petals have two small scales in the throat of the corolla. They are about wide. They are arranged in dense, terminal clusters on the main stem and its branches. The long tubular calyx has five pointed red teeth.
thumb|upright=1.36|A blooming clump at the [[Prague Botanical Garden]]
The individual flowers open in the evening, and stay open for about three days. They produce a stronger scent at night and supplement nectar production during the night. it has been hypothesized that the plant was used to treat the Shroud of Turin.
A lathery liquid that has the ability to dissolve fats or grease can be procured by boiling the leaves or roots in water. Leaves are chopped, boiled, and strained; the liquid can then be used as soap.
It has been widley used in Italy for skin conitions. and the maximum amount in food is regulated in many jurisdictions. Different types of saponins are synthesized by the species. The sapomin saponarin has low acute rat toxicity and no evidence of genotoxicity, so not all saponins are necessarily toxic when ingested.
Despite its toxic potential, Saponaria officinalis finds culinary use as an emulsifier in the commercial preparation of tahini and in brewing to create beer with a good head. In the Middle East, the root is often used as an additive in the process of making halva. The plant is used to stabilize the oils in the mixture and to create the distinctive texture of halva.
In traditional herbal medicine the roots of the species have been used as a diuretic. It was also used for coughs, bronchitis, stomach disorders,
bone deformations, rheumatism, pimples, skin diseases, bile disorders, liver problems and respiratory system diseases.
Chemistry
Saponaria officinalis contains several saponins, which are ribosome-inactivating proteins. Amongst the saponins isolated with this property are isoform 6 of saponarin (SO6, saponin S6) from the seeds, and saporin-L1 (SAP) from the leaves.