PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SARSAPARILLA / 661

Saponaria officinalis

See Soap wort

Sarsaparilla

Smilax species

TRADE NAMES

Sarsaparilla (available from numerous manufacturers) Sarsa-

parilla Root

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried roots, the

entire underground part and the tuberous swellings produced

by the runners.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are white vto pale green,

yellow or brown. They are dioecious, usually in axillary

cymes or racemes, and contain 6 petals in 2 circles. The

ovate to lanceolate tepals are curved outward. The male

flowers have 6 stamens with thick filaments and anthers,

which are fused at the base of the petals. The female flowers

have 6, sometimes only 3, staminoids. The ovate ovary ha's 3

carpels, each with 1 to 2 atropic ovules and with an almost

sessile, bent-back, 3-lobed stigma. The fruit is a globular,

red, blue or black berry with 1 to 6 seeds.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The species are evergreen shrubs or

semishrubs with climbing branches and stipular tendrils.

They have a short, gnarled, perennial, creeping or ascending

rhizome with numerous long roots stretching over many

meters. The branched, thorny, nodular stem has the thickness

of an arm and is yellowish-green. The leaves are in 2 rows.

They are alternate, simple and often hardy, with 3, occasion-

ally 5, reticulately joined main ribs. The leaf sheaths are

ovate and cordate, sagittate and petiolate, or often stipule-

like. They turn into climbing tendrils above and break off at

this point when they die.

Habitat: The species is indigenous to tropical and subtropi-

cal regions of America, eastern Asia and India. In Europe,

only the variety S. aspera is found in the Mediterranean

region.

Production: Sarsaparilla consists of the dried root of Smilax
species, such as Smilax aristolochiaefolii, Smilax regelii and
Smilax febrifuga. The plant is collected in the wild from
January to May. The roots are cut up and air-dried.

Not to be Confused With: Adulterations and mistaken

identity often occurs among the Smilax species.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Steroid saponins (0.5-3%): chief components are sarsaparil-

loside, along with parillin, as a breakdown product; also

including among others desglucoparillin, desglucorhamno-

parillin, aglycones sarsapogenin

EFFECTS

The steroid saponins in the drug are responsible for its

irritating effect on the skin and the strong diuretic and

diaphoretic effect in high doses, as well as its effect as an

emulsifier and foam stabilizer.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Preparations of Sarsaparilla root are used

for skin diseases, psoriasis, rheumatic complaints, kidney

diseases, and as a diuretic and diaphoretic.

Homeopathic Uses: In homeopathy Smilax is used for

itching skin rashes, rheumatism and inflammation of the

urinary organs.

• PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
  No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper
  administration of designated therapeutic dosages. Stomach
  complaints and queasiness may occur in rare cases, as could
  kidney irritation.
  DOSAGE
  Daily Dosage:
  Powder — 0.3 to 1.5 g drug

Tea — 3 cups daily with meals

Cold water extract — 500 ml mornings and evenings

Decoction — 1 to 5 g 3 times daily

Tincture — 5 to 15 g per day

Liquid extract — 8 to 15 ml

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc, acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB34)

LITERATURE

Elmunajied DT et al., (1965) Phytochemistry 4(4):587.

Thurmon FM, (1942) New Eng. J Med 227(4):128.

Tschesche R et al., (1969) Chem Ber 102:1253.

Tschesche R et al., Chem Ber 102:53-61. 1969.

Tschesche R et al., Liebigs Ann Chem 699:212. 1966.

Tschesche R, In: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Ed. H

Wagner, L Horhammer, Pub. Springer-Verlag (1971).

Sarracenia purpurea

See Pitcher Plant