Smilax china root extract or its major bioactive components such
as RES and OXY could protect liver cells by quenching ROS generated
from mitochondrial dysfunction induced by nicotine. Smilax
china root extract also enhanced the rate of nicotine to cotinine
turnover; particularly, it was more effective in cotinine formation
than RES,OXY, andRES+OXY. This study suggested that EESC
activates CYP2A6-mediated metabolism for nicotine conversion
to cotinine by upregulation of CYP2A6. Consequently, EESC
could be a well-intentioned detoxifying natural product enhancing
clearance of nicotine