Editing Smilax (section)

== Uses ==
[[File:Diosgenin planar.png|thumb|left|[[Diosgenin]] is found in ''[[Smilax menispermoidea|S. menispermoidea]]'']]
[[File:Smilax aristolochiifolia - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-130.jpg|thumb|American sarsaparilla (''[[Smilax aristolochiifolia|S. aristolochiifolia]]'') from ''[[Köhler's Medicinal Plants]]'']]
An extract from the roots of some species &ndash; most significantly [[Smilax ornata|Jamaican sarsaparilla]] (''S. ornata'') &ndash; is used to make the sarsaparilla drink and other [[root beer]]s, as well as herbal drinks like the popular [[Baba Roots]] from [[Jamaica]]. Two species, ''S. domingensis'' and ''S. havanensis'', are used in a traditional soda-like Cuban beverage called pru.<ref>{{cite book | last = Katz | first = Sandor | title = The Art of Fermentation | year = 2012 | publisher = Chelsea Green | pages = 162–163 | isbn = 978-1-60358-286-5}}</ref> The roots may also be used in soups or stews. The young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and are said to taste like [[asparagus]], and the berries can be eaten both raw and cooked. Stuffed smilax pancake, or ''[[fúlíng jiābǐng]]'' ({{zh|t=茯苓夾餅| s=茯苓夹饼}}), is a traditional snack from the [[Beijing]] region. ''[[Smilax glabra|S. glabra]]'' is used in [[Chinese herbology]]. It is also a key ingredient in the Chinese medical dessert ''[[guīlínggāo]]'', which makes use of its property to set certain kinds of [[Gelatin|jelly]].

The powdered roots of Jamaican sarsaparilla are known as ''Rad. Sarzae. Jam.'' in [[pharmacy]] and are used as a traditional medicine for [[gout]] in [[Latin America]]n countries. ''[[Köhler's Medicinal Plants]]'' of 1887 discusses the American sarsaparilla (''[[Smilax aristolochiifolia|S. aristolochiifolia]]''), but as early as about 1569, in his treatise devoted to [[syphilis]], the [[Persia]]n scholar [[Imad al-Din Mahmud ibn Mas‘ud Shirazi]] gave a detailed evaluation of the medical properties of chinaroot.<ref>F. Speziale, 'Introduction', 9; H. Tadjbakhshi, 'Hôpitaux et médecins avicenniens en Iran à l'époque savafide', 27-28 in Fabrizio Speziale (ed.), Hospitals in Iran and India. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2012</ref>

[[Diosgenin]], a [[steroid]]al [[sapogenin]], is reported from ''[[Smilax menispermoidea|S. menispermoidea]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pharmacologyonline.silae.it/files/newsletter/2011/vol1/073.mirulanini.pdf|title=Novel Effects of Diosgenin – A Plant Derived Steroid; A Review|author=S.Mirunalini|author2=Shahira|name-list-style=amp|date=2011|website=PhOL - PharmacologyOnLine}}</ref> Other active compounds reported from various greenbrier species are [[parillin]] (also [[sarsaparillin]] or [[smilacin]]), [[sarsapic acid]], [[sarsapogenin]] and [[sarsaponin]].{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

Due to the nectar-rich flowers, species like ''[[Smilax aristolochiifolia|S. aristolochiifolia]]'', [[Smilax bona-nox|''S. bona-nox'']], [[Smilax tamnoides|''S. tamnoides'']] (''S. medica'' is a synonym for all three of these species) and ''[[Smilax officinalis|S. officinalis]]'' are also useful [[honey plant]]s.

A common floral decoration sometimes called "smilax" is ''[[Asparagus asparagoides]]'',<ref>{{cite web | title = smilax | url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smilax | work = Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary}}</ref><ref>[http://www.yourdictionary.com/smilax smilax] at yourdictionary.com</ref> which may look similar to real ''Smilax'' but is not closely related.

In 18th-century [[England]], a type of beer called china-ale was made by infusing [[Smilax glabra|china-root]] (''S. glabra'') and [[coriander]] seeds in ale.<ref>{{cite book |title=The London and Country Brewer 3rd ed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=63FZAAAAYAAJ |author=Ellis, William |year=1737 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=63FZAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA30 30] (The third Part) |publisher=London: Printed for J. and J. Fox}}</ref>