Leaves—rich in vitamin C (176 mg/ 100 g), beta-carotene (10,000 IU/100 g) and minerals. Used in throat and chest infections.
Aerial parts yield beta-sitosterol, 3 beta-D-glucoside, isorhamnetin and quercetin.
The seed contains a flavonoid, isorhamnetin. Fatty oil from seeds contain linolenic and oleic acids (as chief constituents), along with erucic, palmitic and stearic acids.
Ethanolic extract of seeds exhibited marked antibacterial action, also antipyretic and analgesic effects.
S. loeselii Linn. (Kashmir and Hi- machal Pradesh) is used in scrofula and
as an antiscorbutic. The seed oil contains erucic acid and larger amounts of tetracosenoic acid. The plant contains alkaloids, organic acids, tannins, glycosides, sap onins, coumarins and flavonoids.
Smilax aristolochiaefolia Miller. Family Liliaceae; Smilacaceae.
Habitat Native to tropical America and the West Indies.
English Sarsaparilla.
Unani Ushbaa Maghrabi (Ushbaa Desi is equated with Decalepis ham iltonii.)
Action Alterative, antiinflammatory, antipruritic, blood purifier, antiseptic. (It was first introduced in 1563 as a drug for syphilis.)
In Western herbal, Sarsaparilla is equated with Smilax aristolochiaefoha (American, Mexican, Vera Cruz or Grey Sarsaparilla); S. medica, S. regelii (Jamaican, Honduras or Brown Sarsaparilla); S. febrfuga (Ecuadorian or Guayaquil Sarsaparilla). Hem idesmus 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.
608 Smilax aspera Linn.
The roots and rhizomes ofsarsaparilla contain saponins based on aglycones sarsapogenin and smilagenin, the major one being parihin (sarsaponin), with smilasaponin (smilacin) and sarsapariloside; beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol and their glucosides. Chief components of saponins (0.5—3%) are sarsapariloside, along with paruflin 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 aspera Linn.
