Sarsaparilla Landen Straub and Annie Opel Introduction Sarsaparilla is an aromatic flavoring agent from Central and South America. It is made from the dried roots of tropical vines of the Smilax genus in the lily family Liliaceae. It has been used to flavor soft drinks like root beer and it also has medicinal properties. Origin ● Originates from Central and South America ○ southern and western coasts of Mexico to Peru ○ Used by natives for beverages and herbal medicine long before Columbus ● Brought to Europe by Spaniards in 1530 ● Touted as a depurative of great power, efficacy in cleansing the body of corrupt humors, sweetening the blood, and removing diseases through liquid disposal ● Name originates from the Spanish word “zarzaparilla” ● Not only important as a medicine, sarsaparilla was equally sought after throughout the world for uses in beverages. ● Genus Smilax has 260 species of climbing vines Physical Description Of Smilax plants ● Perennial monocots ● Form evergreen shrubs with vines that climb ● Different species used for different things; some used in medicine, others in beverages dependent on factors like: ○ texture ○ chemical composition, ○ taste, essential oils, etc. ● Species of Smilax used: ○ officinalis ○ ornata ○ glabra ○ regelii ○ japicanga Artist’s Rendition Life Stages of Smilax ornata Smilax ornata roots Root typically knotty, tuberous growing obliquely in the ground Smilax ornata plant composed of many thin fleshy Smilax ornata flowers Leaves have pair of basal, Flowers dioecious and are fibers spiralling tendrils held in umbels History of Preparation ● 18th century: it was often used in medicinal syrups with active ingredients iodide and mercury, giving credit to sarsaparilla ● 19th Century: Syrups become popular in America and ● 1830: Recognized by U.S. Pharmacopoeia ● 1831: Pharmacist Geo W Carpenter makes concentrated fluid extract ○ first written account of fluid extracts ○ Writes Essays on some of the most important articles of the Materia Medica ○ His described method then used to make other fluid extracts that lead to medicinse like morphine, quinine, and piperine ○ Creates more uniformity since made by doctors and not mixed by patients like with syrups Contemporary Uses Sarsaparilla has two contemporary uses: ● Medicinal- treating or alleviating symptoms of: ○ psoriasis ○ rheumatoid arthritis ○ Diuretic ○ STI’s such as gonorrhea and syphilis ○ leprosy ● Flavoring agent ○ One of the main flavoring agents in root beer and some herbal teas ○ Used to mask the tastes of medicine Structure and Bioactivity What gives sarsaparilla its unique medicinal properties and flavor? Phytochemistry of the genus Smilax is characterized by an abundance of steroidal saponins- a type of plant activity thought to be responsible for medicinal qualities Steroidal saponins exhibit many bioactivities such as cytotoxic, hemolytic, anti- inflammatory, fungal, and antibacterial properties Historical Uses - Medicine ● Was a very popular medicine in the 1800’s that was used and prescribed frequently by doctors in Britain and America ● Long list of diseases that sarsaparilla was prescribed for around 1854: ○ “Syphilis, scrofula and scrofulous glandular tumors, struma, tuberculosis disease, scorbutic complaints, boils and carbuncles, cutaneous affections, scaly papular and pustular eruptions, chronic rheumatism, chronic inflammation and immobility of the joints, atonic gout, dyspeptic disorders, indigestion and its concomitant evils, external or internal ulceration, scirrhous and cancerous tumors, many morbid deranged or faulty conditions of the blood like anemia , languid circulation, loss of colour of flesh and strength, local or general debility, incipient phthisis, and most hectic and cachetic complaints where alterative, tonic, and restorative remedies are indicated.” “False Sarsaparilla” ● Aralia nudicaulis, AKA ‘false sarsaparilla’ ○ Flowering monocot plant of northern and north eastern North America ○ 30-60 cm tall with underground stems Very common in American north/northeast Roots used as a substitute for true sarsaparilla in herbal medicine and flavoring Bibliography Works Cited 1. Sarsaparilla. (2015). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://academic.eb.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard. edu/EBchecked/topic/524508/sarsaparilla 2. Smilax. (2012). In Allaby, M.(Ed.), A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 Nov. 2015, from http://www. oxfordreference.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780199600571.001.0001/acref-9780199600571-e-6067. 3. Smilax, L. (1854). Sarsaparilla, and sarsaparilla so-called : A popular analysis of a popular medicine, its nature, properties, and uses; how to insure its success as a remedy; the most approved forms; and the various phases of disease in which it may be advantageously empl. London: Aylott. 4. Steroidal saponins from the roots of Smilax sp.: Structure and bioactivity: http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard. edu/science/article/pii/S0039128X12000311\ 5. Sarsaparilla preparations Lloyd, John Uri in Pharm. Rev. 2 (1903)25 6. Carpenter, George Washington. Essays on Come of the Most Important Articles of the Materia Medica. Philodelphia: Geo. W. Carpenter's Chemical Warehouse, 1831. Print. Images 7. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/emotions/images/3b312c-d.jpg 8. http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/l-qz9trsfo5v7id4.jpg 9. https://www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/herbals/2011/HrbsarsaparillaC001_default.png 10. http://maineroot.com/fcplus/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/image_06.jpg 11. http://d12mafwafvawfa.cloudfront. net/media/catalog/product/cache/6/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/n/a/nature_s_way_sarsaparilla_425mg_100caps/astronutr ition.com-Nature%E2%80%99s-Way-Sarsaparilla---425-mg-100-caps-31.jpg 12. Richard Evans Schultes, 1989. 907. HUH. 13. Jun Wen, 1991. HUH. 14. Collector + Number (collector number, not barcode or anything) + herbarium abbreviation.