The root bark of the Sassafras tree historically was used to make sassafras tea and root beer. The use of sassafras products has been banned by the FDA because it can cause hepatic tumors in laboratory animals.
Plant: Sassafras albidum
Active ingredient: safrole
Clinical findings at high doses:
(1) ataxia
(2) hypothermia
(3) CNS depression
(4) hepatotoxicity
(5) altered drug metabolism
Clinical findings with chronic use:
(1) hepatic tumors (at least in rats)
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.