Genus of perennial flowering plants of the family Podophyllaceae, formerly, Berberidaceae; represented in traditional medicine by two species: Podophyllum peltatum L., known as American podophyllum, and P. hexandrum R., syn. P. emodi Wall., known as Indian podophyllum. Medicinal portions are the dried rhizome and the resin extracted from it. Has been used as a cathartic, emetic and cholagogue and externally as a caustic. Constituents are similar in both species, but vary in concentration. The antimitotic lignin, podophyllotoxin, q.v., is the principal active component. History, isoln procedures, structures: J. L. Hartwell, A. W. Schrecker, Fortschr. Chem. Org. Naturst. 15, 83-166 (1958); and review of medicinal uses: J. Singh, N. C. Shah, Curr. Res. Med. Aromat. Plants 16, 53-83 (1994). HPLC determn of constituents in plant extracts: J. K. Bastos et al., Phytochem. Anal. 6, 101 (1995). Production of cytotoxic lignins by cell culture: M. Petersen, A. W. Alfermann, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 55, 135 (2001).
Habit. North America. Constit. Chiefly podophyllotoxin (0.25-1.0%), α- and β-peltatins, quercetin, kaempferol.
Habit. Himalayas, east Asia. Constit. Chiefly podophyllotoxin (1.0-4.0%), 4′-demethylpodophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxone, quercetin, kaempferol.
Dried ethanolic extract obtained from the dried rhizomes and roots. Description, pharmacology and comparison with podophyllotoxin in treatment of anogenital warts: E. Longstaff, G. von Krogh, Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 33, 117-137 (2001).
Caustic.