[6] It is also native to western coastal Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa in India; as well as Indochina, southern China,[7] Japan and Taiwan as known by its many indigenous peoples.

[8] It is tolerant to reasonably poor soil, can be planted around farmers’ homes,[9] and one tree can produce 30 to 35 kilograms (66 to 77 lb) of fruit per year.

[11] More specifically, Chhetri, Watts, Rahman, and Islam (2009) found that extracts from the soapnut can be used as an organic surfactant to increase the mobility of oil from the fields.

In addition, researchers have demonstrated the potential for the soapnut to be used as a natural surfactant for washing arsenic from soils that are rich in iron.

[13][14] In addition, Grzywaczyk et al. (2023) found that saponins from soapnuts can support the effects of the antibiotics nitrofurantoin or furazolidone against several Pseudomonas bacteria.