Habitat: Native to tropical America and the West Indies.
English: Sarsaparilla.Unani: Ushbaa Maghrabi (Ushbaa Desi is equated with Decalepis hamiltonii.)
Action: Alterative, anti- inflammatory, antipruritic, blood purifier, antiseptic. (It was first introduced in 1563 as a drug for syphilis.)
In Western herbal, Sarsaparilla is equated with Smilax aristolochiaefo- lia (American, Mexican, Vera Cruz or Grey Sarsaparilla); S. medica, S. regelii (Jamaican, Honduras or Brown Sarsaparilla); S.febrifuga (Ecuadorian or Guayaquil Sarsaparilla). Hemides- mus indicus is equated with Indian Sarsaparilla.Key application: Preparations of sarsaparilla root are used for skin diseases, psoriasis and its sequel, rheumatic complaints, kidney diseases, and as a diaphoretic and diuretic. (The claimed efficacy has not been established clinically.) Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.The roots and rhizomes of sarsaparil- la contain saponins based on aglycones sarsapogenin and smilagenin, the major one being parillin (sarsaponin), with smilasaponin (smilacin) and sar- saparilloside; beta-sitosterol, stigmas- terol and their glucosides. Chief components of saponins (0.5-3%) are sar- saparilloside, along with parillin as a breakdown product. Parillin shows antibiotic activity.Sarsaparilla root sterols are not anabolic steroids, nor are they converted in vivo to anabolic steroids. Testosterone, till now, has not been detected in any plant including sarsaparilla. Hemidesmus indicus contains none of the saponins or principal constituents found in sarsaparilla. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... smilax aristolochiaefolia
Action: Tubers—used as alterative in venereal diseases, chronic skin diseases and rheumatic affections. Used as official sarsaparilla. (China of homoeopathic medicine is Peruvian bark, not Smilax china.)
Sarsaparilla (Smilax species) is used in Oriental as well as in Western herbal for its alterative, gentle circulatory stimulant and mild testosterone activity.The root is known for its steroidal saponins. Pro-sapogenin-A of dioscin, dioscin, gracillin. Me-protogracillin, Me-protodioscin and its 22-hydroxy- analog; besides beta-sitosterol gluco- side, smilaxin, two furostan and one spirostane glycosides have been isolated from the root.Dosage: Root—50-100 mg powder. (CCRAS.)... smilax china
Action: Root—used in prescriptions for venereal diseases. Decoction, used for abscesses, boils, swellings and rheumatism; also for dysentery Used as a substitute for S. ornata.
Diosgenin is reported from the root and leaf.... smilax zeylanica
Action: Roots—used for syphilis, venereal diseases and sores, as a blood purifier.
Astilbin, 3-O-caffeoyl-shikimic, fer- ulic, palmitic, shikimic and succinic acids; engeletin, isoengeletin; glucose; daucosterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmas- terol are major constituents of the root.Crude saponins, isolated from the plant, produced preventive effect on cholesterol-fed atherosclerosis in quails.Ayurvedic: Maitri.Unani: Ushbaa (wild species).Folk: Ghot-vel (Maharashtra).
Action: Roots—used as a substitute for Hemidesmus indicus. Used for venereal diseases, urinary infections, rheumatism. Also used for dysentery. (S. perfoliata Lour., synonym S. prolifera Roxb. is used as a substitute for S. ovalifolia.)... smilax glabra
Health Encyclopedia