The cocolmeca herb (Smilax) belongs to the smilacaceae family, comprising around 350 species of tropical and subtropical distribution, used as popular medicine in Central America and the Caribbean islands. In Mexico it has been used mainly for weight loss. Case presentation: A 52-year-old man with a history of systemic arterial hypertension and grade I obesity, with consumption of smilax for at least two months, presented deterioration in renal function, with initial studies with urea 90 mg/dl and serum creatinine 3.6. mg/dl, infectious and systemic causes were ruled out, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was confirmed by percutaneous biopsy, management was given with methylprednisolone boluses and renal function improved. The use of traditional remedies is common throughout the world, with use rates exceeding 80% in some populations. It is considered that approximately 2% of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is due to AIN.