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Synonyms: American Mandrake, May-apple

Biological source:

Botanical name:Podophyllum hexandrum, Podophyllum pelatum

Part used:dried rhizomes and roots

Family: Berberidaceae

Geographical source:

Podophyllum pelatum is indigenous to eastern part of USA and canada.

Grows wildly in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Tenessee.

Podophyllum hexandrum grows abundantly in higher slopes of Himalayas (2700-4000m altitude) in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Also found in Afghanistan and Tibet.

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Macroscopical features (Root)

Color: Brownish
Odor: characteristic
Taste: bitter
Shape: subcylindrical
Size: 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm in diameter
Other features: shows scars due to cutting of branches and roots, horny fracture, cut surface shows a ring of vascular bundle and central pith. Fracture: granular and horny

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Microscopical features (Rhizome)

Thinwalled, tubular cork present.
Cortex made up of parenchyma with number of starch grains and calcium oxalate crystals.
Vascular bundle arranged in a ring with phloem on the outer side.
Vascular bundles separated by medullary rays
The central pith shows the crystals of calcium oxalate.

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Note:

Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles
sphaeraphides are spherical aggregation of raphides.
raphids are needle-shaped crystals usually of calcium oxalate

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Chemical constituents

Podophyllum resin is present to the extent of 6-12 % The chief constituent is podophyllotoxin.

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Pharmacological action / Uses

Has antitumor activity.

Podophyllum resin has powerful purgative property.