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Sarsaparilla in SodaPeak: A Smilax Root With Lab Studies and No Clinical Trials
Sarsaparilla in SodaPeak is the root of Smilax glabra, a vine used in traditional Chinese medicine, listed sixth in the blend, so it weighs at most 200 mg per two capsules. Memorial Sloan Kettering says its listed uses rest on lab and animal studies and that clinical studies have not been done.
Written by the SodaPeak label deskUpdated
What it is01
What is sarsaparilla in SodaPeak?
Sarsaparilla is the name of several Smilax vines. The SodaPeak panel lists it sixth, as "Sarsaparilla (Smilax Glabra Roxb.) Root", which is the species Memorial Sloan Kettering calls tufuling in traditional Chinese medicine.
The source adds a warning about names: Smilax glabra should not be confused with Smilax officinalis, another species also called sarsaparilla (MSK, Smilax glabra). Because the common name covers more than one plant, the botanical name on the label is the useful detail.
Sixth place caps the line at 1,200 divided by 6, which is 200 mg for two capsules (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)). The label gives no extract strength and no amount.
| Name on the label | Sarsaparilla (Smilax Glabra Roxb.) Root |
|---|---|
| What it is | Root of Smilax glabra, a vine used in traditional Chinese medicine |
| Place on the panel | 6 of 8 in the blend |
| Amount per serving of 2 capsules | not printed; 200 mg at most by label order |
| Same ceiling at 1 capsule | 100 mg at most |
| Amount used in research | No human trials in our source |
| Strength of evidence | MSK: the listed uses rest on lab and animal studies; clinical studies have not been done |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional tonic; sold for vitality |
| Main caution | MSK: lab studies suggest effects on CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 medicines; the page lists people on those medicines under 'Do Not Take if'. |
The evidence02
Does sarsaparilla work?
There is no clinical evidence to point to. Memorial Sloan Kettering says every use listed for Smilax glabra rests on lab or animal studies, and clinical studies have not been conducted (MSK, Smilax glabra).
The uses the source lists are cancer, arthritis, infections, kidney disease and immune stimulation. None of them is a muscle or testosterone use, and the source reports no study in people for any of them. A lab result shows what a compound does to cells in a dish, and an animal result shows what it does to an animal, and neither shows what a capsule does to a man.
| Type of study | What it can show | For Smilax glabra |
|---|---|---|
| Lab (cells) | What a compound does in a dish | Present, per Memorial Sloan Kettering |
| Animal | What it does in an animal | Present |
| Clinical (people) | What it does in people, at a dose | Not conducted |
| Trial of this capsule | What this product does | None found |
This site makes no claim about testosterone, sexual performance or muscle for sarsaparilla.
Questions for the seller03
What should I ask a seller about a name with no clinical studies?
Ask for specifics that a maker can answer in a sentence. A seller who cannot answer them is telling you something.
| Ask | A useful answer |
|---|---|
| How much sarsaparilla is in a capsule? | A number in milligrams, not a blend total |
| Is it an extract or a powder, and at what ratio? | A named ratio or a standardized marker |
| Which species? | Smilax glabra, matching the label |
| Has the capsule been tested by a lab? | A certificate of analysis with a lot number |
| Who makes it? | A named company with an address and phone |
The seller of this site is a retailer, not the maker, and the panel names no maker. Questions about amounts therefore go to the order desk first. See the contact page for the phone and email, and batch verify for the lot code the seller quotes.
SodaPeak Capsules: 60 per bottle30 servings of 2 capsules · 1, 2, 3 or 6 bottles · price shown at checkout
See packsSafety04
Is sarsaparilla safe with medicines?
Memorial Sloan Kettering says lab studies suggest effects on medicines processed by the liver enzymes CYP3A4 or CYP2D6, and it lists people taking those medicines under "Do Not Take if". The clinical relevance has not been determined.
The page lists no safety data. That is not a clean bill of health. It means the source has nothing to report, so the safe course is to ask a pharmacist. If your medicine list includes drugs processed by CYP3A4 or CYP2D6, the pharmacist can say whether a conflict is known.
They are enzymes in the liver that break down many medicines. A herb that speeds or slows them can make a medicine weaker or stronger. Your pharmacist can look up your medicines.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine because of a supplement. Report any unusual symptom to your clinician and to MedWatch (FDA, MedWatch).
How much05
How much sarsaparilla is in SodaPeak?
The label does not say. The order allows up to 200 mg per two capsules, and the real amount may be far less.
No human trial exists, so there is no studied dose to set beside the label. The ceiling of 200 mg is a limit from weight order, not an amount. The proprietary blend page shows the arithmetic for all eight names, and the ingredients page lists each one with the research we could verify.
The practical point is short. A name with only lab and animal studies behind it is a name nobody can credit with a result in people, and a capsule that lists it among eight has the same limit. Treat it as an unknown, not as a hidden strength, and weigh the whole product on the evidence that exists for it, which is none for this blend.
- Check the botanical name on your own bottle: Smilax glabra.
- Ask the seller for a certificate of analysis if you need amounts.
- Tell your pharmacist about CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 medicines.
FAQ06
SodaPeak questions people ask
What is sarsaparilla used for?
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists cancer, arthritis, infections, kidney disease and immune stimulation, all resting on lab or animal studies. No clinical studies have been conducted.
Is sarsaparilla the same as Smilax glabra?
The SodaPeak label names Smilax glabra Roxb. Sarsaparilla is a common name for several Smilax species, and Memorial Sloan Kettering warns not to confuse Smilax glabra with Smilax officinalis.
Does sarsaparilla raise testosterone?
Our source does not cover testosterone for sarsaparilla. This site makes no claim about hormone levels for SodaPeak.
Does sarsaparilla interact with medicines?
Lab studies suggest effects on medicines processed by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. The clinical relevance has not been determined. Ask a pharmacist if you take either type.
Is sarsaparilla safe?
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists no safety data, so safety is unknown rather than proven. Adults on regular medicine should ask a pharmacist.
Has sarsaparilla been tested in people?
Memorial Sloan Kettering says clinical studies have not been conducted for Smilax glabra. Its listed uses rest on lab and animal studies.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the seller brief and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized SodaPeak Retailer. It is not the manufacturer, and it does not name one. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Sources and links (3)
- Smilax glabra (Tufuling), About Herbs Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2022
- 21 CFR 101.36 - Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (U.S. National Archives / GPO), 2026
- MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026
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