Smilax
This is not medical advice and should not be taken as such. I am posting this for informational and educational purposes only. If in doubt don’t get to know a plant and it’s safety before using it.
There are many plants in the Smilax family in my area which is the eastern part of the United States. The ones I am familiar with are S. Ecirrhata, and S. Tamnoides. S. Tamnoides has briars on them that really hurt when jagged by them. We also have S. Glauca, S. Herbaceous, S. Rotundifolia, S. Pulverulenta, and S. Pseudochina in my area. I have eaten the leaves and like the taste. Many say the young shoots taste like asparagus. I have never eaten the roots but they are edible.
http://floridahillbilly.com/smilax-a-backyard-wild-edible/
http://www.eattheweeds.com/smilax-a-brier-and-thats-no-bull/
Most of them have the same phytochemicals that I am familiar with so they will be the ones I list studies on.
Has anti allergy properties.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26387391
fights cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4351248/
http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/8/5/464.long
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/12/19890
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26607178
http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/8/5/464.long
Reduces inflammation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25817687
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363603/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5585559/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244943/
Helps with pelvic inflammatory disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23353177
Protects against myocardial hypertrophy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25926285
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23954280
Cardioprotective
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24953033
Has antimicrobial properties.
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/5/5265
May have hepaprotective effects.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23681353
Contain Astilbin which is renal protective.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19644810
Contains steroidal saponins. Which has antifungal, and anti inflammatory.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5507813/
Protects from lead poisoning.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20580805
Reduces oxidative stress.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244943/
Contains taxifolin which has many health benefits. It is also known as dihydroquerciten. Too many benefits to list here.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12016952
Fights herpes and other viruses
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf030837o
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16375860
Helps with gout
