noun
soapberry; Indian soapberry; Chinese soapberry
Refers to the tree Sapindus mukorossi or its fruit, whose shells contain saponin and are used as a natural soap.
ムクロジの実は、昔、石けんの代わりに使われていた。
Soapberry fruits were once used as a substitute for soap.
The Japanese name ムクロジ (mukuroji) is of uncertain origin. The kanji 無患子 literally mean 'no-illness child', possibly reflecting traditional beliefs about the plant's protective properties.