Sarsaparilla

Generic name: Smilax Aristolochiifolia Mill. (Mexican Sarsaparilla), Smilax China, Smilax Febrifuga Kunth (Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla), Smilax Glabra, Smilax Officinalis Kunth (Honduran Sarsaparilla), Smilax Ornata Lem., Smilax Regelii Killip Et Morton (Honduran, Jamaican
Brand names: Ba Qia Catbrier, Carrionflower, China Root, Chob Cheeni, Greenbrier, Jin Gang Teng, Khao Yen, Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae, Sarsa, Sarsaparilla, Smilace, Smilax, Tufuling, Zarzaparilla

Usage of Sarsaparilla

Anti-inflammatory/Analgesic activity

Animal and in vitro data

In vitro studies report effects on inflammatory markers.Lu 2014, Lu 2015, Ruangnoo 2012

Extracts of Smilax species have been shown to inhibit induced paw inflammation in rats.Ageel 1989, Khan 2019, Khan 2020, Ruangnoo 2012 Specifically, S. glabra alone and combined with Bolbostemma paniculatum downregulated interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6 levels in animal models of inflammatory arthritis.Bao 2018, Dong 2017 In a murine model, the methanol (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) and ethyl acetate (400 mg/kg) extracts of S. ornata exerted anti-inflammatory activity, with an onset of action of 210 minutes, 150 minutes, and 120 minutes, respectively, and a duration of action of 2 hours, 2 hours, and 3.5 hours, respectively. The 200 mg/kg methanol extract dose also exerted analgesic effects, with an onset of 60 minutes and a duration of 2 hours. The 400 mg/kg dose of methanol extract and 400 mg/kg dose of ethyl acetate extract exerted analgesic effects, with an onset of 30 minutes and a duration of 2.5 hours.Khan 2019

In a murine model of psoriasis, astilbin 25 to 50 mg/kg ameliorated keratinocyte proliferation, elevations in circulating CD4+ and CD8+ cells, elevations in inflammatory cytokines, and infiltration of CD3+ cells to lesions. Th17 cell differentiation was inhibited by astilbin in an in vitro model.Di 2016

Antioxidant activity

Animal and in vitro data

Experiments report antioxidant activity for extracts of the Smilax genus.Huang 2013, Park 2014, Xia 2010, Yoon 2014 Protective effects against oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity have been demonstrated in rats.Murali 2012, Xia 2013

Antimicrobial activity

In vitro data

Antimycotic activity was described in a screening study.Caceres 1991 In vitro antimicrobial activity has been described for S. glabra rhizome extracts and Smilax campestris, including activity against Candida albicans.Morais 2014, Xu 2013 BUTAnol extracts of S. china showed activity against HIV in vitro.Wang 2014

Cancer

Animal and in vitro data

Studies of various Smilax species extracts have investigated cytotoxic activity against human cell lines (including cervical, hepatic, breast, gastric, and colon cancer) and induced tumors in mice.Cao 2013, Gao 2011, Wang 2013, Wu 2010, Wungsintaweekul 2011, Xu 2014 In castrated mice with induced benign prostatic hyperplasia, extracts from S. china reduced dihydroTestosterone levels, and histopathological examination reveals a possible protective effect against prostate enlargement.Chen 2012 In another study, sarsaparilla promoted adhesion and blocked migration of HepG2, MDA-MB-231, and T24 cell lines in vitro, as well as blocked metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells in an in vivo model.She 2015

Cardiovascular risk factors/Metabolic syndrome

Animal and in vitro data

In vitro studies suggest modulatory effects on endothelial dysfunction.Sang 2014

Hypoglycemic effects have been demonstrated in mice, possibly via effects on inflammatory aspects of metabolic syndrome and inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes.Amaro 2014, Fukunaga 1997, Perez-Najera 2018 Astilbin protected against induced reperfusion injury in rats, possibly via modulation of proinflammatory markers.Diao 2014 However, astilbin and smitilbin from S. glabra did not stimulate insulin secretion.Nguyen 2012 A reduction in blood glucose was noted in a rat model administered 50 mg/kg of gold nanoparticle synthesized from S. glabra.Ansari 2019 In a murine model of obesity, weight gain and fat mass were atTenuated with an ethanolic extract of S. china. Specifically, the extract was found to inhibit lipid synthesis and promote lipolysis.Yang 2019 In saline-challenged mice, Smilax canariensis (Canary Islands) increased diuresis in a manner similar to Hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide.Abdala 2012 S. glabra flavonoids inhibited induced intracellular calcium ion release in cardiomyoblast cells.Shou 2013

In an in vitro study, a water-soluble fraction of S. china reduced lipid accumulation in adipocytes. It also induced the release of glycerol and cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in the adipocytes.Kang 2015

CNS effects

Animal data

A study in mice with induced seizures reported an antiepileptic effect (increased seizure latency) for extracts of the S. china rhizome.Vijayalakshmi 2011 Smilagenin, a compound derived from S. ornata, prevented dopaminergic neuron impairment in a murine model of Parkinson disease.He 2019 Astilbin was found to exert neuroprotective effects in another murine model of Parkinson disease; these effects resulted from suppression of gliosis, oxidative stress, and alpha-synuclein overexpression.Zhu 2019

Gout

Animal data

Several studies in hyperuricemic and hyperuricosuric rats receiving various Smilax species have reported positive findings, such as reduction in uric acid levels.Chen 2011, Hou 2015, Huang 2019, Liang 2019, Wu 2014

Clinical data

Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae, in combination with ash bark, has been studied in patients with gout. The Rebixiao combination preparation was effective in reducing serum uric acid levelsJi 2005; however, the study had methodological limitations.Li 2013

Enzyme inhibitory effects

In vitro data

In vitro data determined that fractions of S. china exhibited inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase, alpha-glucosidase, urease, tyrosinase, lipase, and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes.Ahmad 2019, Lee 2017

Sarsaparilla side effects

Clinical studies are lacking to provide evidence (or lack of evidence) of harm; however, traditional use of sarsaparilla, eaten raw or in soups and used in Chinese medicine, suggests safety at usual dosages.Cao 2013, Duke 2002 GI irritation and increased diuresis have been reported.Duke 2002, King 2012 Occupational asthma caused by sarsaparilla root dust has been reported.Vandenplas 1996

Before taking Sarsaparilla

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities have been described for extracts of Smilax corbularia (Thai sarsaparilla).Wungsintaweekul 2011

How to use Sarsaparilla

Clinical trials are lacking to provide guidance on therapeutic dosages.

Warnings

Information regarding toxicity with the use of sarsaparilla is limited.

What other drugs will affect Sarsaparilla

Case reports are lacking. Hepatic induction of CYP2A6 has been described for extracts of S. china species.Kim 2014 Increases in absorption of digitalis and elimination of hypnotics may be expected.Vogel 2005 An additive effect with diuretics and allopurinol might also be anticipated, based on animal studies.Abdala 2012, Wu 2015 Animal data suggest a reduction in the area under the curve and maximum plasma concentration of methotrexate when given with S. glabra.Li 2017

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