How Does the Surface Activity of Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis L.) Extracts Depend on the Plant Organ?

Ilona Góral , Ilona Jurek , Kamil Wojciechowski

Abstract

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis, L) extracts from different plant organs (roots/rhizomes, stems, leaves, and flowers/fruits) were tested because of their ability to lower surface tension at the water/air interface and because of their foaming ability. In addition, surface dilational rheology of the adsorbed layers was assessed. The plant material was collected from May to October 2016 to enable analysis of temporal changes in surface activity of the extracts throughout the same vegetation period. Each organ sample at the given development stage was extracted both fresh (immediately after collecting) and after air drying, to compare the effect of postharvest treatment on surface activity of the extracts. The results show that the latter depends strongly on the development stage, the plant organ, and even the postharvest treatment. During the plant lifecycle, the surface activity of extracts from individual organs varies, probably following the saponin content alterations related to their production and storage for the next season.