Trump: Sasparilla? What is that?
Benefits of Sarsaparilla
A plant studied for its use in cancer, and skin, inflammatory, and kidney conditions.
By Dawn Sheldon, RN Updated on March 20, 2024
The sarsaparilla root has been used medicinally for centuries. Many parts of the sarsaparilla plant are used as flavorings in foods and beverages. Interestingly, in the United States, the once-common drink named sarsaparilla didn’t contain any ingredients from the plant—it contained flavoring from the sassafras plant.
Treating Cancer
Sarsaparilla is believed to be an antioxidant, which can lower your body’s levels of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules out of balance, and high levels of them are believed to contribute to many diseases, including cancer.
While several studies suggest that sarsaparilla extract can slow the growth and migration of cancer cells and possibly even kill them, these results were seen in mice and not conducted in human trials.
Researchers have identified several mechanisms they believe are at work in the anti-cancer processes of sarsaparilla. Preliminary studies have found that sarsaparilla was able to stop cancer from spreading by inhibiting the signaling of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1).5
Other research by some of the same scientists suggested sarsaparilla promoted beneficial changes in cancerous cells by slowing growth and increasing cancer cell death.6
However, these findings lack sufficient evidence and need further investigation in human trials.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/sarsaparilla-benefits-4582510