Sassafras albidum. S. varifolium, S. officinale  Sassafras, Saxifrax, Ague tree, Cinnamon wood, Saloop   Family: Lauraceae      
PART USED: Root bark, root
TASTE: Sweetish and slightly mucilaginous, aromatic and astringent. ODOR: Pleasant, aromatic.
ACTIONS
1. Carminative.[1,2]
2. Diaphoretic.[1,2]
3. Diuretic.[1,2]
4. Dermatological agent.[1]
5. Antirheumatic.[1,2]
6. Antiseptic.[2]
Topically- Antiseptic.[1] Pediculicide.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Cutaneous reputations.[1]
2. Rheumatic pains.[1] Gout.[1]
Topically- Oil in pediculosis capitis.
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Topically: Oil in pedunculosis capitis (head lice).
COMBINATIONS
- Eczema, use with Burdock Root, Yellow Dock and Stinging Nettle.
PREPARATIONS  3X /day
Dried bark  2-4 g or by infusion.[1]
Liquid extract root bark 1:1 in 25% alcohol  2-4 ml.[1,2]
Oil of Sassafras BPC 1954 for external use only.[2]
Note - Oil is only suitable for topical use.[1]
   
ORIGIN: Eastern USA and Canada.
DESCRIPTION: The root bark is a bright, rust brown color, in irregular pieces, soft and brittle. The fracture is short and corky, in definite layers, showing numerous oil glands. The root itself is sometimes found as chips; it is brownish white, showing distinctive concentric rings traversed by narrow medullary rays.
References
In ner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
Safrole is carinogenic in animals and should not be taken internally.[2,3] It is possible to prepare safrole free extracts but since safrole is responsible for much fo the effectivenss of sassafras, and also for its odor and flavor, this is not of much use.[1]
References
[1] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations  R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[2] Miller, E.C. et al. (1983) Cancer Res. 43, 1124
[3] Borchet, P. et al. (1973) Cancer Res. 33, 575

Chemical composition of essential oil from the root bark of Sassafras albidum.
Kamdem DP, Gage DA.
Abstract
The root bark of Sassafras albidum (Nuttall) Nees (Lauraceae) was extracted at room temperature with hexane and chloroform as solvents. The isolated essential oils were analyzed with GC and GC/MS. Thirty compounds were identified, nine of which have not been previously reported from this species. The major compounds were safrole (85%), camphor (3.25%), and methyleugenol (1.10%). Ten sesquiterpenes were also identified.
PMID: 8824955 DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959379  Planta Med. 1995 Dec;61(6):574-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antileishmanial Activity of Compounds Isolated from Sassafras albidum.
Pulivarthi D, Steinberg KM, Monzote L, Piñón A, Setzer WN.
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasitic protozoa, which currently lacks efficient treatment. Natural products have shown promise as a potential source for antiprotozoal drugs. This work focuses on the antileishmanial potential of Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae) bark extract. The crude bark extract of S. albidum showed excellent antileishmanial activity with an IC50 value less than 12.5 µg/mL against promastigotes of L. amazonensis. The chloroform stem bark extract of S. albidum was subjected to preparative column chromatography. Five compounds were isolated, purified by recrystallization, and identified as sesamin, spinescin, ß-sitosterol, hexatriacontanal, and 1-triacontanol. Antileishmanial and cytotoxic screening were performed on these compounds. Sesamin exhibited the best activity against L. amazonensis with an IC50 of 15.8 µg/mL and was not cytotoxic to mouse macrophage cells (CC50 > 100 µg/mL).
PMID: 26411017  Nat Prod Commun. 2015 Jul;10(7):1229-30. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov