Sarsasapogenin is a steroid sapogenin originally isolated from Smilax that has antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antidepressant-like properties.^1,2,3,4,5,6 Sarsasapogenin inhibits proliferation of HeLa cervical, MCF-7 breast, HepG2 liver, A549 lung, A375.S2 melanoma, and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells (IC50s = 31.36-48.79 μM) and dose-dependently induces apoptosis of HeLa cells.^2,3 It also protects human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced death with a neuroprotective ratio of 27.3% when used at a concentration of 100 μM.⁵ In vivo, sarsasapogenin (10 mg/kg) reduces 2,3,4-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colon shortening, myeloperoxidase activity, NF-κB activation, and IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in mice.⁴ It also increases the percentage of correct responses in the Y-maze test in aged rats when administered at a dose of 3.6 mg/kg per day.⁷ Sarsasapogenin (12.5 mg/kg per day) reduces the amount of time mice spend immobile in the forced swim test, indicating antidepressant-like behavior.⁶