Sarsaparila

sem-5 pharmacy

1. sarsaparilla

2. SYNONYM: Jamaica sarsaparilla, Radix sarsaparilla B.S.: It consist of dried root from smilex ornata Hooker., S.medica , S.officinalis kunth . Family :  Liliaceae Geographical Source: It is found in Central America, Costa Rica. Exprted from jamaica (distributed worldwide).

3. Cultivation & Collection: Hot & Humid climate and on light well drained sandy loam soil rich in humus. Propagated by seed or suckers. Plant have short thin rhizome & very long thick root. Root harvested 2 nd year after cultivation. From rhizomes slender cylindrical roots are coming out and they are upto 3 m in length. Roots are laid bare & then cut off near rhizome. Root are dried & made into bundles.

4. Morphology: Color: dark reddish brown color Taste: slightly bitter & muciligenous . Size: bindles half meter long & 12 cm diameter. Each bundle contains root with 3 mm di . In thickness & doubled up. Other feature: Much shrunken & furrowed longitudinally & containing numerous branching rootlets. They are tough & flexible. They bend but not break easily. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT: Main sarsasaponin ( aglcon - sarsasapogenin (reduced form of yamogrnin ), glycon -sugar) Sarsapic acid, fatty acid, dextrose, sitosterol , resins etc. smilagenin (reduced form of diosgenin )

5. Uses: 1) Sarsasapogenin used as a starting material of steroids 2) Used to treat syphilis, gonorrhoea , wounds, fever, cough, gout, hypertension, digestive disorder, anticancer, chronic skin disease, rheumatisum 3) Alcoholic extract used as anticancer activity. Substituents & adultrants : S.Officinalis ( jamica ) Rhizomes of species of pteris and rooys of Phelodendron (climbing plant) Comercial variety: Lima Honduras Guayaquil Mexican jamaica