Podophyllum consists of the dried rhizomes and roots of Podophyllum peltatum Linn., belonging to family Berberidaceae.
PODOPHYLLUM
Synonyms
Podophyllum, American Mandrake, May-apple root.
Biological Source
Podophyllum consists of the dried rhizomes and roots of
Podophyllum peltatum Linn., belonging to family Berberidaceae.
Geographical Source
Podophyllum peltatum is indigenous to Eastern part of the
United States and Canada. It grows wildly in Virginia, North Carolina,
Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee.
Collection and Preparation
Podophyllum is a perennial herb which grows wildly in moist
and shady places. Most of the drug is collected from the wild plant in autumn.
However, the cultivation of podophyllum has been found to be profitable in the
area of its occurrence. The rhizomes are dug up, washed with water to remove
soil, and cut into smaller pieces. The adventitious roots present on the
rhizomes are removed. The drug is dried in the sun.
Characteristics
Podophyllum rhizomes come in the form of subcylindri-cal
pieces of 5–20 cm length and 5–6 mm thickness at the internode and about 15 mm
at the node. The pieces show occasional branching. It shows the scars of aerial
stems and adventitious roots. The outer surface is smooth or wrinkled and dark
reddish brown. It shows slight but characteristic odour and bitter, acrid
taste. The rhizome breaks with a short, horny fracture. The transversely cut
surface show white starchy circles with radially elongated vascular bundles.
Microscopy
A transverse section of the podophyllum rhizome shows darker
epidermis and one- or two-layered cork made up of dead cells. The outer cortical
zone is made up of thin-walled parenchyma and collenchymatous tissues, whereas
the inner cortex consists of a ring of smaller vascular bundles. Central pith
is parenchymatous with narrow stone cells. Certain parenchymatous cells of the
nodal region shows cluster crystals of calcium oxalate and most of the cells
show the presence of starch grains.
Chemical Constituents
Podophyllum rhizomes contain 2–8% resinous material termed
as podophyllin. The major constituents of podophyllum resin are the lignan
derivatives which are charac-terized as podophyllotoxin, α- and β-peltatin. The lignans are found in
the form of glycosides and also as their free aglycones. It also contains
desmethyl podophyllotoxin, desoxypodophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxone, a flavonoid
quercetin and starch
Uses
Podophyllum resin or podophyllin shows cytotoxic activity.
It is used for the treatment of venereal and other warts. Podophyllotoxin is
semisynthetically converted to a potent anticancer agent etoposide which is
mainly used for the treatment of lung and testicular cancer. Podophyllum resin
is a strong gastrointestinal irritant. It acts as a drastic purgative in
moderate doses but it has been mostly replaced by other purgative drugs.
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