Podophyllum peltatum (American mandrake). Also known as 'May apple'.

  • Sue Snell
  • Digital Images
  • Online

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Description

Close-up of seedling with dark copper leaves. Contains podophyllin and podophyllotoxin which are irritating to skin and mucous membranes and may cause damage to the central nervous system if ingested. Also a violent purgative. Solutions containing podophyllin have been used as a paint for treating warts, skin neoplasms, and senile keratoses. A semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin is Etoposide which exhibits antitumor activity and is used as a first class cancer chemotherapy drug. The plant is not related to the European Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum).

Contributors

Permanent link