China Root

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, India, French, English, Malaya, Iran, Dutch, German

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alterative, Aphrodisiac, Arthritis, Asthma

Science studied: OLEIC-ACID, RUTIN, SMILAX-SAPONIN-A, SMILAX-SAPONIN-C

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Smilacaceae

Scientific name: Smilax china

Common names: China Root, China root, China-root, Chinaroot, Chinawurzel, Chinese smilax, East Asian greenbrier, kinarot, racine de Chine, zarzaparilla de China, 청미래덩굴

POWO: 541353-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, India, French, English, Malaya, Iran, Dutch, German and 5 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alterative
• Aphrodisiac
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Boil
• Cancer
• Carminative
• Debility

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• India
• French
• English
• Malaya
• Iran
• Dutch
• German
• Europe
• Egypt
• Italian
• Elsewhere

Documented cultural uses

• Alterative
• Aphrodisiac
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Boil
• Cancer
• Carminative
• Debility
• Demulcent
• Depurative
• Dermatosis
• Diaphoretic

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alterative · China · "
• Alterative · India · "
• Alterative · French · "
• Aphrodisiac · English · "
• Aphrodisiac · Malaya · "
• Aphrodisiac · India · "
• Arthritis · China · "
• Asthma · India · "
• Boil · China · "
• Cancer · Iran · "
• Carminative · China · "
• Debility · China · "
• Demulcent · Dutch · "
• Depurative · China · "
• Depurative · German · "
• Dermatosis · Malaya · "
• Diaphoretic · India · "
• Diarrhea · China · "
• Diuretic · China · "
• Enteritis · China · "
• Flux · China · "
• Gonorrhea · Malaya · "
• Gout · China · "
• Gravel · China · "

27 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Integrating at-line nanofractionation platform with GNPS for unveiling neuraminidase inhibitors from ethanolic extract of Smilax china L. · 2026 source ↗
• Spatial Niche Differentiation and Growth-Promoting Functions of Bacterial Microbiota in Smilax china L · 2026 source ↗
• Intestinal metabolic characteristics of Smilax china L. pectic polysaccharide and prediction of its gut microbiota-mediated mechanism. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• OLEIC-ACID
• RUTIN
• SMILAX-SAPONIN-A
• SMILAX-SAPONIN-C
• CINCHONIN
• ISOSERYL-S-METHYLCYSTEAMINE-SULFOXIDE
• TANNIN
• DIOSGENIN
• RESIN
• SMILAX-SAPONIN-B
• FAT

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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