Evidence supporting the use of: Sarsaparilla
For the health condition: Infection (bacterial)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.) has a long history of traditional use for various ailments, including infections, particularly in the context of herbal medicine systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and traditional Western herbalism. Historically, sarsaparilla root was used as a remedy for syphilis and other infectious diseases in Europe and the Americas during the 16th to 19th centuries. This use was largely based on empirical evidence and anecdotal reports, rather than controlled scientific studies.

The rationale for its use in infection often stemmed from its perceived "blood-purifying" properties and mild antimicrobial effects. Some early pharmacopoeias listed sarsaparilla as an adjunct in the treatment of chronic bacterial infections and skin diseases thought to be caused by infection or toxins.

Modern scientific evidence supporting sarsaparilla's antibacterial properties is limited. Some in vitro studies have identified certain compounds in sarsaparilla, such as saponins and flavonoids, that exhibit weak antibacterial activity against specific bacterial strains. However, these effects have not been substantiated in rigorous clinical trials, and the concentrations required for efficacy in the laboratory are typically much higher than those achievable with standard herbal preparations. As such, while traditional use as a remedy for bacterial infection is well documented, scientific validation remains weak, and its use for this purpose should be considered with caution.

More about sarsaparilla
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Other ingredients used for Infection (bacterial)

15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
2'-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Abies spectabilis
Abrus
Abuta
Acacia
Acemannan
Achyranthes
Agarikon Mushroom
Agastache
Agave
Ajoene
Alantolactone
Alchornea
Alcohol
Allicin
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Allyl sulfide
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
Alstonia scholaris
Amor seco
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
annatto
apple cider vinegar
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
aucubin
avens
babchi
Baccharis dracunculifolia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
Bacillus licheniformis
bacillus subtilis
Backhousia citriodora
bacteria
Baphicacanthus cusia
barberry
Basidiomycota
Bassia scoparia
Bauhinia
bayberry
bearberry
bee propolis
Belamcanda
bentonite
benzyl isothiocyanate
berberine
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
beta-glucan
betel
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black nightshade
black pepper
black walnut
blackboard tree
Blepharis
Brazilian peppertree
Brevibacillus brevis
burdock
Caesalpinia crista
cajuput
calamus
Campsiandra angustifolia
caprylic acid
carvacrol
cassia bark
cat's claw
Ceanothus integerrimus
celandine
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Chiococca alba
chirata
cinquefoil
Cistus
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cocklebur
coconut oil
Coin-leaf desmodium
Combretum quadrangulare
copaiba oil
Coptis chinensis
coriolus mushroom
cosmos
curcumin
cuspidatum root
Cymbidium goeringii
Cynodon dactylon
dehydroabietic acid
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
dialyzable leukocyte extract
Dichrostachys glomerata
divi-divi
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
elemi
elephant\'s head
Embelia
eucalyptus
eugenol
Euphorbia
fang-feng
Ficus religiosa
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fomes fomentarius
fucoidan
galangin
Gallesia
geraniol
geranium
ginger
Globulins
glyceryl caprylate caprate
glyceryl monolaurate
golden shower tree
goldenseal
Graviola
Guazuma ulmifolia
heartwood
Horsemint
Houttuynia
Humic acid
Hydrocolloid
Hygrophila
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
Indian coraltree
iodine
Isoalantolactone
isothiocyanates
Kachnar
Kefiran
Kigelia africana
knotgrass
Kochia
L. lactis
Labdanum
lactic acid
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus crispatus
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus lactis
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus casei
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Lantana camara
Lapachol
lauric acid
Lauric arginate
Leptadenia
Leptospermum scoparium
lichen
licorice root
lime
liverwort
Lophira lanceolata
Lysimachia
lysozyme
Macaranga indica
Mahonia
Malva sylvestris
mangostanol
mangosteen
mangostin
mannose
manzanita
Marsh Tea
Matapalo Tree
Methenamine
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mondo grass
Monolaurin
Moringa
Mountain horopito
Myrobalan
Myrrh
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Naphthoquinones
Nasturtium
Nisin
Oldenlandia diffusa
oriental arborvitae
Orris
Osha
Paenibacillus polymyxa
Pareira
pau d'arco
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pentatropis capensis
Pepper Bark Tree
Peroxidase
Phellodendron
phlorotannins
Phragmites
Piper retrofractum
pistacia integerrima gall
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
Premna
probiotics
purified silver
purple Tephrosia
Quebracho
Quisqualis
red root
Rosa laevigata
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Saccharomyces boulardii
Sanguisorba
Sarcandra glabra
sarsaparilla
Savory
schizonepeta
sea salt
Self-Heal
Sesquiterpenic Acid
shiitake mushroom
Shikonin
Simaruba
Siphoviridae
Smoketree
Spanish Needle
Spilanthes
Stemona
Storax
Streptococcus salivarius
streptococcus thermophilus
Streptomyces
Streptomyces cellulosae
Streptomyces fradiae
Streptomyces griseoflavus
Sulfated polysaccharide
Swertia
Sword Bean
Tannins
Teri Pod
Terpinen-4-ol
Thiosulfinate
Thuja
Thymol
Trametes
turmeric
Umckalin
Umckaloabo
Verbascoside
vitamin C
vitamin D
Waltheria ovata
Wasabi
White oak
Xanthorrhizol
Yellow root
Zinc
Zingerone