Saponins are also present in small amounts in some foods, such as soybeans and peas.
As a consequence of their surface-active properties, saponins are excellent foaming agents, forming very stable foams. Quillaja bark has been used as a shampoo in Chile for hundreds of years, and Native Americans used yucca to make soap. The antifungal and antibacterial properties of saponins are important in cosmetic applications, in addition to their emollient effects. Mature desert Yucca Yucca and quillaja saponins have both current and potential applications in animal and human nutrition. Yucca extracts are extensively used for ammonia and odor control in pig and poultry-raising facilities and in dog and cat foods.