Phytochemistry and pharmacology of selected species of Smilax L. (Smilacaceae) in India

Background: Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medical practices since prehistoric times. It is popularly known that roots, rhizomes, and leaves of some Smilax species are widely used for treating various diseases such as toothache, muscular pain, urinary diseases, and jaundice. Methodology: This review aims to document the information regarding major phytochemicals and pharmacological activity of selected Smilax species in India. Details of different species of Smilax species in India were collected from online databases such as https://wcsp.science.kew.org/(2022), https://powo.science.kew.org (2022), and https://www.ipni.org (2022). All the available information related to phytochemistry and pharmacological activities was collected from electronic databases such as Academic Journals, Springer, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and other primary and secondary sources. Results: Literature survey revealed that members of the genus Smilax possess large quantities of steroids and phenolic compounds and possess various bioactive properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and analgesic activities. Conclusion: This review concludes that more research on the genus Smilax is required to identify and evaluate the presence of potential bioactive constituents, and further investigations may be led to the development of new drugs.