Roots of Smilax species (Smilacaceae), named as salsaparrilha, have been used for centuries in Asia and Americas
as depurative (=for “cleaning blood”), diuretic and sudorific. In southeast of Brazil, roots of Herreria salsaparrilha
Mart. (Agavaceae) are also named as salsaparrilha and are used for the same purpose. In this study, we have
evaluated the antihyperlipidemic and antihyperglycemic effects of extracts from roots of Smilax brasiliensis and
H. salsaparrilha in mice fed with high-refined carbohydrate diet (HC). The chemical composition of the products
was determined by LC-DAD and LC–MS. Groups of mice that received the HC diet showed an increase in plasma
concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol, compared to control group, without treatment (p b
0.05). Triglycerideswere reduced significantly (p b 0.05) in HC diet group that received 100 and 200mg/kg BW/
day of both salsaparrilha extracts. Glucose and total cholesterol levelswere reduced significantly (p b 0.05) in the
groups that received the higher doses (200 mg/kg BW/day) of both extracts of salsaparrilha. Extracts of
S. brasiliensis, at this dose also showed a higher reduction in triglycerides levels (p b 0.001) and promoted a
significant reduction in the adipocyte area (p b 0.05). Both extracts showed the presence of saponins in LC analysis
but S. brasiliensis has a higher concentration of phenolics, mainly chlorogenic acid. The presence of steroidal
saponins might be responsible for the reduction of the cholesterol levels, while phenolics in S. brasiliensis by the
metabolism of triglycerides and better fat distribution. The result is according with the traditional use of these
plants and shown their potential for use as functional foods.