Ethnobotany
Most saponins, which readily dissolve in water, are poisonous to fish. Therefore, in ethnobotany, they are primarily known for their use by indigenous people in obtaining aquatic food sources.
Since prehistoric times, cultures throughout the world have used piscicidal plants, mostly those containing saponins, for fishing.
Although prohibited by law, fish poison plants are still widely used by indigenous tribes in Guyana.
On the Indian Subcontinent, the Gond tribes are known for their use of plant extracts in poison fishing.
Many of California's Native American tribes traditionally used soaproot, (genus Chlorogalum) and/or the root of various yucca species, which contain saponin, as a fish poison. They would pulverize the roots, mixing in water to create a foam, and then add the suds to a stream. This would kill or incapacitate the fish, which could be gathered easily from the surface of the water. Among the tribes using this technique were the Lassik, the Luiseño, the Yuki, the Yokut, the Chilula, the Wailaki, the Miwok, the Kato, the Mattole, the Nomlaki and the Nishinam.
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