Common Name:

General Information

Smilax cordifolia is a climbing shrub with prickly stems growing from a tuberous rootstock.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - central and southern Mexico; Caribbean - Leeward Islands

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Smilax cordifolia is native to central and southernf Mexico, and so will experience climates ranging from subtropical to tropical,
Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Used for food[]. No more details are given.

Medicinal

The consumption of Smilax cordifolia roots is widely recommended in Mexican traditional medicine due to their anti-obesogenic and antiinflammatory activities[].
An aqueous extraction of the root has been shown to have a beneficial effect in the treatment of renal damage caused by obesity due to a decreased renal lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This effect has been related to the high content in the roots of rosmarinic acid and hesperidin[].
It has been suggested that aqueous extracts of the roots could be used in the production of functional beverages with hepatoprotective effects[].

The plant is said to be used medicinally in the same ways as Smilax aristolochiifolia[]. These are as follows:-
Smilax aristolochiifolia (the roots and rhizome) is a sweet, acrid, alterative herb that reduces inflammation, controls itching, improves digestion and elimination and is antiseptic[].
This is one of three species (the others are Smilax febrifuga and Smilax regelii) that gained a high reputation in the 17th century as cure-alls[]. They were widely imported into Europe until early in the 20th century, by which time their rather overrated reputation had waned somewhat. However, the plants do have a number of important medicinal benefits - in particular, their roots contain steroidal saponins which are an effective treatment for many cases of psoriasis; they also have hormonal effects, and may improve fertility in women with ovarian dysfunction[].
The rhizomes are alterative, digestive, febrifuge[, ]. A decoction is used in the treatment of fevers, digestive disorders, kidney troubles and gonorrhoea[]. It is also used against scrophulus, skin diseases and rheumatism[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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