Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

Action ◮ Root bark—used in
blennorrhagia. Flower—bechic
(used in pectoral syrups). Bark—
a decoction is used in venereal
diseases and leprosy.
The bark contains cytotoxic iridoids
(including fulvoplumierin which also
inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis) and the lignin, liriodendrin.
The plant contains the triterpene
rubrinol which showed antibacterial
activity against Gram-positive and
Gram-negative bacteria, including
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a causative
agent responsible for infecting burns,
wounds, urinary tract and infection in
cystic fibrosis) and Pseudomonas pseudomallei
(which causes melioidosis or
pseudoglandess).
The herb contains cardiac glycosides
which have a narrow-margin of safety.
(Sharon M. Herr.)
Podophyllum hexandrum Royle.
Synonym ◮ P. emodi Wall. ex
Hook. f. & Thoms.
Family ◮ Berberidaceae.
Habitat ◮ Inner ranges of the
Himalayas, from Kashmir to Sikkim
at 1,800–4,000 m.
English ◮ Indian Podophyllum.
Ayurvedic ◮ Giriparpata.
Folk ◮ Bana-kakari (Punjab), Venivel
(Gujarat), Patvel (Maharashtra).
Paapraa, Paapri.
Action ◮ Rhizomes and roots—
antineoplastic. Strongly irritant
Podophyllum sikkimensis R. Chatterji & Mukerjee. 503
to skin and mucous membranes.
Used topically as an ointment for
venereal warts, verrucae and similar
conditions.
Key application ◮ P. peltatum—
externally, for removal of pointed
condyloma (skin adjacent to the
treated area should be protected).
(German Commission E.) P. hexandrum:
Podophyllin (10–40%) for
external application, 2–6 h weekly,
for anogenital warts. (Indian Herbal
Pharmacopoeia.) (Podophyllin is
a mitotic poison.)
May Apple of North America is
equated with Podophyllum peltatum
Linn. The main lignin is podophyllotoxin.
Podophyllum hexandrum contains
similar lignans with the exception
of alpha-and beta-peltatins, which
are reportedly absent; the concentration
of podophyllotoxin is up to 4.3%.
P. peltatum contains about 0.25% and
the Taiwanese species P. pleianthum
0.1% podophyllotoxin.
(Podophyllotoxin is a valuable lignin,
as it is used for the synthesis
of chemically administered cytostatic
etoposide and tenoposide.)
Podophyllum sikkimensis
R. Chatterji & Mukerjee.
Family ◮ Berberidaceae.
Habitat ◮ Sikkim.
Folk ◮ Paapraa (var.).
Action ◮
tumours.
Resin—used against
The rhizomes and roots yield 7.5%
resin which gave a lignin lactone desig-
P