Literature Review of Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae ( 土茯苓 ).

Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae, also called Tufuling in Chinese, is commonly used for detoxication, relieving dampness and as a diuretic in traditional Chinese medicine. It is also one of the main ingredients in Guiling gao; an old traditional functional food in Southern China and Hong Kong. To facilitate the research about this herbal medicine, different aspects e.g. confusable species, compounds isolation, quality control and bioactivity of this herb had been reviewed in this article.