Specialty Additives Available — Bulk Only

Saponin (Saponins)

CAS 8047-15-2 · Formula C55H86O24 · MW 1131.3 g/mol

A plant-derived glycoside surfactant for natural foaming and cleansing systems. It is used as a natural surfactant, foaming agent, and cleansing agent in cosmetic and cleaning formulations.

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CAS Number
8047-15-2
Formula
C55H86O24
Molecular Weight
1131.3 g/mol
Material Family
Specialty Additives
At a Glance
Material Family
Specialty Additives
Record Type
Pure compound
Primary Role
Cleaning / Degreasing · Surfactancy
Functional Roles
SAPONINS
CLEANSINGSURFACTANT - CLEANSINGSURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
Applications & Use Cases
  • Natural surfactant: Plant-derived surface-active agent for formulations.
  • Foaming agent: Generates and stabilizes foam in cleansing products.
  • Cleansing agent: Mild surfactant for personal-care cleansers.
Physical Properties
Physical Description
Solid
Safety & Handling
Full SDS available on request

A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.

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Chemical Identity
CAS Number
8047-15-2
Molecular Formula
C55H86O24
Molecular Weight
1131.3 g/mol
IUPAC Name
(2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4S,6aR,6bS,8R,8aR,9R,10R,14bR)-9-acetyloxy-8-hydroxy-4,8a-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4,6a,6b,11,11,14b-hexamethyl-10-[(Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoyl]oxy-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-4-hydroxy-3,5-bis[[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy]oxane-2-carboxylic acid
INCI Name
SAPONINS
PubChem CID
InChI Key
AXNVHPCVMSNXNP-ZELRDNAQSA-N
Synonyms & Trade Names
Saponins Saponine Flogencyl beta-Aescin beta-Aescinu beta-Aescusan beta-Reparil beta Escin beta-Escin Sapogenins Glycosides s4690
Full Description

Saponin (CAS 8047-15-2), a class of naturally occurring glycosides with surface-active properties. It is used as a natural surfactant, foaming agent, and cleansing agent in cosmetic and cleaning formulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is saponin used for?

Saponin (CAS 8047-15-2) is a class of naturally occurring glycosides with surface-active properties. It is used as a natural (plant-derived) surfactant, foaming agent, and cleansing agent in cosmetic and cleaning formulations.

What is saponin made from?

Saponins are naturally occurring glycosides extracted from plant sources (such as soapbark/Quillaja, soapnut, and other botanicals). The commercial material is supplied as a plant-derived surface-active raw material. Confirm the botanical source on the CoA.

How does saponin work as a surfactant?

Saponins are amphiphilic glycosides whose structure combines a water-attracting sugar portion with a lipid-soluble aglycone, allowing them to reduce surface tension, generate foam, and emulsify. This is the basis for their use as natural surfactants and foaming agents in cleansers.

Is saponin water-soluble?

Saponins are generally water-soluble and form colloidal, foaming solutions in water, which is the property exploited in cleansing and foaming applications. Solubility and foam behavior vary by botanical source and purity; confirm against the technical data.

What grades of saponin are available and how is it quoted?

Saponin is offered at different purities and from different botanical sources depending on whether the use is cosmetic, cleaning, or technical. Pricing tracks source, purity, and volume and is quoted per lot; submit an RFQ with your required source and quantity for a quote, CoA, and SDS.

Disclaimer. Information on this page — including properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA, 49 CFR 172.101, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot purchased governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information. Trademarks. Third-party trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners; any reference is nominative — used only to identify a comparable product — and does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by the trademark owner.