SAPONIN. 
§§ 580, 58l.] 
§ 580. Action on Man. —The effects of saponin on man have been but 
little studied ; it has been administered by the mouth in doses of from 
•1 to *2 grm., and in those doses seems to have distinct physiological 
effects. There is increased mucous secretion, and a feeling of nausea ; 
but neither diaphoresis nor diuresis has been observed. From the fore¬ 
going study it may be predicated that 2*6 grms. (40 grains), if adminis¬ 
tered subcutaneously to an adult, would endanger life. The symptoms 
would be great muscular prostration, weakness of the heart’s action, and 
probably diarrhoea. In fatal cases, some signs of an irritant or inflam¬ 
matory action on the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines 
would be probable. 
§ 581. Separation of Saponin. —Saponin is separated from bread, 
flour, and similar substances by the process given at p. 153, Foods. 
The process essentially consists in extracting with hot spirit, allowing the 
saponin to separate as the spirit cools, collecting the precipitate on a 
filter, drying, dissolving in cold water, and precipitating with absolute 
alcohol. In operating on animal tissues, a more elaborate process is 
necessary. The senior author has successfully proceeded as follows :—The 
finely divided organ is digested in alcohol of 80 to 90 per cent, strength, 
and boiled for a quarter of an hour ; the alcohol is filtered hot and 
allowed to cool, when a deposit forms, consisting of fatty matters, and 
containing any saponin present. The deposit is filtered off, dried, and 
treated with ether to remove fat. The insoluble saponin remaining 
is dissolved in the least possible quantity of water, and precipitated with 
absolute alcohol. It is also open to the analyst to purify it by precipi¬ 
tating with baryta water, the baryta compound being subsequently 
decomposed by carbon dioxide. Basic lead acetate may also be used as 
a precipitant, the lead compound being, as usual, decomposed by hydric 
sulphide ; lastly, a watery solution may be shaken up with chloroform, 
which will extract saponin. By some one of these methods, selected 
according to the exigencies of the case, there will be no difficulty in 
separating the glucoside in a fairly pure state. The organ best to 
examine for saponin is the kidney. In one of the experiments, in a cat 
poisoned with subcutaneous dose of saponin (-2 grm.), evidence of the 
glucoside was obtained from the kidney alone. The time after death at 
which it is probable that saponin could be detected is unknown ; it is a 
substance easily decomposed, and therefore success in separating it from 
highly putrid matters is not probable. 
Brunner’s process may be recommended when small quantities of 
saponin are suspected in liquids such as lemonade. Any acidity present 
is neutralised by the addition of magnesium carbonate. 20 grms. of am¬ 
monium sulphate are added to 100 c.c. of the fluid and shaken in a separat¬ 
ing funnel with 9 c.c. of phenol. The phenol is separated, 50 c.c. of water 
added to it, and then 100 c.c. of ether ; should an emulsion form, a few 
