Sarsaparilla plant

Marker s synthesis was initially based on sarsasapogenin as starting material from root extracts of the Mexican sarsaparilla plant (Smilax aristolochiaefolia), and later on diosgenin. Diosgenin is found as the 3-glycoside (dioscin) in numerous Liliaceae and Dioscoreaceae species, and may be extracted with ethanol from the air-dried rhizomes of Dioscorea tokoro, Dioscorea macrostachya, Dioscorea mexicana, Dioscorea floribunda and Dioscorea composita (Barbasco). The extract is evaporated and heated with dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid to cleave the glycosidic bond. Subsequently, diosgenin is filtered off and used as such for the synthesis of steroid hormones. 

Wild sarsaparilla Avalia nudicaulis) has long been an ingredient of soft drinks. Aloe Aloe vera) once provided needles for early phonographs and remains important today as a salve in the treatment of bums and in cosmetics. Meadow saffron or fall crocus Colchicum au-tumnale) was used to treat gout (a painful disease of inflamed Joints), and is still much used in research. Cochic ine is extracted from the plant and used to pre-... 

Modified Stipules.—In some plants such as the Locust and several other trees and shrubs of the Legume family, the stipules become modified for defensive purposes as spines or prickles. In the Sarsaparilla-yielding plants and other species of the genus Smilax they undergo modification into tendrils which are useful in climbing. 

Pollinastanol 4,4-desmethylcycloartanol, a plant constituent related structurally to the sterols and to cycloartenol. Particularly good sources of P. are pollen from members of the Compositae, the fern Polypodium vulgare, and roots of sarsaparilla (Smilax medica). tn these plants, P. is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. 

Sarsaparilla products, along with other sterol containing plants, have in recent years been touted as performance-enhancing or body-building substitutes for anabolic steroids sold primarily to athletes. No human or animal studies substantiate these claims. Plant sterols cannot be bio-chemically transformed in vivo into steroidal compounds, and have not been shown to promote anabolic effects in humans. ... 

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