May apple

A poisonous plant belonging to the barberryfamily, 30-50 cm tall and native to North America. In addition to the upright stems, it is characterized by shield-shaped, shiny blue-green leaves up to 40 cm in diameter with seven and nine lobes. The plant produces white flowers and develops 2-3 cm large, greenish-yellow, edible fruits (May apple or wild lime). Apart from the fruit, all parts of the plant are poisonous. Flowering time: April to May, fruit ripening: August to September.

The horizontally creeping, up to 2 m long, dark brown rhizome, Podophyllii rhizoma, is used phytotherapeutically.

Podophyllum is mainly known for its toxic resin: the dried rhizome and the attached roots contain the toxic footleaf resin(podophyllin; podophyllotoxin). This only forms after the roots have dried, the toxicity increases during storage and reaches its highest toxicity after 2 years. Podophyllin has a cytostatic, antimycotic and virusstatic effect. In medicine it is used in particular for the treatment of condylomas, see also under Notes.

In traditional medicine, the root has been used both as a laxative and to treat worm infestations, and in high doses also for suicide.

Podophyllum peltatum is the parent plant of Rhizoma Podophyllii (off. DAC86), an extract obtained from the rhizome of the plant. The ingredients are lignans.

Podophyllotoxin, as well as alpha- and beta-peltatine.

Podophyllin is obtained from Rhizoma Podophyllii by treating the extract with highly diluted hydrochloric acid, a highly toxic mixture of substances which is used medicinally in ethanolic solution in the treatment of condylomata acuminata.

Partially synthesized podophyllotoxin derivatives are the topoisomerase II inhibitors

• etoposide and
• teniposide

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 109-110
2. Natasha Singh N et al. (2023) A comprehensive review on the pharmacognostic and toxicological profile of Podophyllum peltatum (Bajiaolian). Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine 10; 100353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prmcm.2023.100353

3. Montag A (2023) Plants and skin. Springer-Verlag GmbH. S. 517-522