Sarsaparilla

SARSAPARILLA, Radix Sarsaparillae (Ph. VII). Under the name of Honduras S., the roots of Smilax utilis Hemsley (family Liliaceae-Smilacoideae) and other species of this genus growing in Central America are used in medicine. These are woody lianas equipped with curved thorns, reaching 100 m in length. The roots reach 2½ m in length, are flexible, round, and 3-5 mm in thickness; they are cut into pieces 1-2 cm long and split lengthwise. The outer surface of the root is brown, covered with longitudinal wrinkles. The inner bark is white, mealy, and twice as wide as the wood. The taste is mucilaginous, irritating; there is no odor. The composition of S. roots includes 3 saponins in amounts of 0.5-2%: 1) parillin (smilacin), C32H48O8+½H2O, crystalline, almost insoluble in cold water, easily soluble in boiling water, alcohol, and chloroform; 2) sarsaparilla-saponin (smilasaponin) (C32H48O10)5+12H2O, amorphous, soluble in water; 3) sarsasaponin (C32H36O10)12+24H2O, crystalline, easily soluble in water; its dust causes sneezing. The most poisonous are parillin and sarsasaponin; they cause salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Parillin acts hemolytically even in dilutions of 1:100,000. Like other saponins, they are protoplasmic poisons and, when introduced into the blood, cause loss of excitability of muscles and nerves. Absorption is slow and general poisoning occurs after several days. When rubbed into the skin with fats, it causes itching and pustular rash. It is not absorbed through the intact membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to saponins, S. also contains 52% starch, 2.5% bitter resin, and 3-12% ash. S. was previously used in the treatment of syphilis in the form of Zitman's decoction, which includes calomel and cinnabar, or in the form of Decoctum S. compositum, which does not contain mercury and therefore is unlikely to have an anti-syphilitic effect. Modern pharmacologists deny the specific effect of sarsaparilla in the treatment of syphilis.