An appetite-stimulating tea is made from the leaves it has a flavor somewhat reminiscent of boiled socks and is slightly laxative. The plant can be grown as a low dividing hedge in the vegetable garden. The plant contains saponin-like substances. Eating large quantities of the leaves may cause the breakdown of red blood cells. However, although they are potentially harmful, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm.
Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans.
Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will normally remove most of them from the food. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish. Future - A Resource and Information Centre for Edible and other useful plants.