Hepatoprotective and Safety Evaluation Studies on Sarsaparilla

Abstract

The effect of the ethanol extract of sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii) has been studied on carbon tetrachloride (CCI₄)-induced hepatocellular damage in rats. Pretreatment with an ethanol extract of sarsaparilla significantly inhibited CCI₄-induced biochemical changes. Acute and chronic toxicity studies were also undertaken to determine the safety of prolonged use of sarsaparilla. Acute administration of sarsaparilla extract in the dose range of 0.5 to 3.0 g/kg did not produce any adverse effects or mortality in mice over a period of 24 hours. Animals treated with sarsaparilla extract (100 mg/kg/ day) for a period of 90 days in drinking water showed no symptoms of toxicity. There was no significant change in body weight and hematological parameters in the chronically treated animals as compared to the control group. These findings suggest that sarsaparilla, besides having hepatoprotective potential, has no untoward effects in rodents.