Senegalia rugata is a spiny climbing shrub native to China and tropical Asia, common in the warm plains of central and south India.

[1][6][5][3] Countries and regions to which it is native include: Papua New Guinea (Eastern New Guinea); Indonesia (West Papua, Kai Islands, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Jawa, Sumatera); Philippines; Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia); Thailand; Cambodia; Vietnam; Zhōngguó/China (Guangdong, Yunnan); Laos; Myanmar; India (Andaman Islands, Assam), Bangladesh, Nepal, East Himalaya.

It has been introduced/naturalized to the following countries/regions: Nouvelle Caledonie; Australia (Queensland); Japan (Okinawa); Réunion; Madagascar; Seychelles; Brazil (southeast); Jamaica[citation needed] The species is invasive in countries around the world, including New Caledonia.

[10] Pre-Harappan level of Banawali (2750–2500 BC), Haryana have revealed traces of a mixture of Shikakai with soap nuts and Amla (Indian Gooseberry), exhibiting ancient roots of South Asian hygiene.

In order to prepare it, the fruit pods, leaves and bark of the plant are dried, ground into a powder, then made into a paste.

[19] Senagalia rugata extracts are used in natural shampoos or hair powders and the tree is now grown commercially in India and Far East Asia.

Saponins from the plant's pods have been traditionally used as a detergent, and in Bengal for poisoning fish; they are documented to be potent marine toxins.

[citation needed] Traditional healers of Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand, use the leaves of this species to treat irregular menstruation.

[citation needed] An infusion of the leaves of Senagalia rugata has also been used for therapy of jaundice in the traditional Indian medicine.

[28] In 2004, an estimated 2,459 kilograms (5,421 lb) of material was purchased nationwide by the industry at an average price of 80 Nepalese rupees.

[29] In commercial extracts, when the plant is hydrolyzed it yields lupeol, spinasterol, acacic acid, lactone, and the natural sugars glucose, arabinose and rhamnose.