Smilax glabra

Smilax glabra, the Chinaroot, tufuling (土茯苓) or sarsaparilla, is a plant species in the genus Smilax. It is native to China, the Himalayas, and Indochina. Smilax glabra is used in Chinese herbology. It is also a key ingredient in the Chinese medical dessert guīlínggāo, which makes use of its property to set certain kinds of jelly. Dihydro-flavonol glycosides (astilbin, neoastilbin, isoastilbin, neoisoastilbin, (2R, 3R)-taxifolin-3'-O-beta-D-pyranoglucoside) have been identified in the rhizome of Smilax glabra as well as smitilbin, a flavanonol rhamnoside. Sarsasapogenin, a steroidal sapogenin, can also be found in S.glabra.