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I'm retting (soaking) some pounded yucca leaves for fibre. I don't think I'd previously appreciated just how high the saponin content in these are!

Saponins are fat and water soluble molecules which plants produce to deter predators. Like modern detergents, they foam in water, can remove grease and stains, and taste really bad.

Fish are very sensitive to saponins, and they've been traditionally used to stun/kill fish, which can then be collected as they float to the surface.