Smilax glabra, the Chinaroot, tufuling or sarsaparilla, is a plant species in the genus Smilax. S. 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.
Forests, thickets, thinly forested slopes along valleys, river banks; 300--1800 m. Anhui, Fujian, S Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, ?S Shaanxi (Qin Ling), Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].