Mayapple(Podophyllum peltatum)
Other Names:
American mandrake, Maypop
Range:
Family:
Berberidaceae – Barberry family
Growth Type:
Herbaceous Perennial
Height:
Up to 18 in tall
Leaves:
P peltatum is a hermaphrodite plant. This means it has both male and female plants. The female plant has two large deeply lobed umbrella-like leaves. The male plant bears only a single leaf.
Stem/Trunk:
The male plant has a single stem, while that of the female is branched.
Root:
A system of horizontal rhizomes and tubers will blanket an area
Flower Season:
Early Spring
Flower Appearance:
A single small white waxy flower is borne suspended from the branch of the stem.
Seed/Fruit:
In late spring a single globe to egg shaped fruit grows.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
It is important to note that the fruit is mildly toxic until it has ripened and turned yellow.
Habitat:
Moist lush woodlands
Parts Used:
Fruit, Root (Medicinal)
Culinary Uses:
The ripe fruit can be eaten raw, cooked, or made into a jam or jelly. It can also be used to make a lemonade-like drink.
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
P. paltatum contains a toxin called podophyllotoxin.
This plant should only be used externally.
Internal use is not recommended unless under the advice and supervision of a qualified medical professional
Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Native Americans and early settlers used the root as a strong purgative, "liver cleaner", emetic, and worm expeller. Also used to treat jaundice, constipation, hepatitis, fevers, and syphilis, genital warts, herpes, influenza, and vaccinia viruses. The compound Podophyllotoxin has cytotoxic, anti-cancer, and antimalarial actions. There are two derivatives that are used in chemotherapy against several types of cancer. Etoposide is used in combination with other compounds to treat testicular cancer, and as a primary treatment for small cell lung cancer. Also used to treat various forms of leukemia.
This plant has been demonstrated, by scientific studies, to be effective for the treatment of the following conditions. The fact that studies concerning all traditional uses listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said uses are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopia prior to the rise of allopathic medicine.
Cancer: Kitaeva, M. P., A. A. Aksenov, T. A. Fedotcheva, A. V. Semeikin, and N. L. Shimanovsky. "Cytotoxic Activity of Extracts from the Intact Plant and Cell Cultures of Podophyllum peltatum Against Cervical Cancer Cells." Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal 56, no. 3 (2022): 361-365.
Condylomata Acuminata (Genital Warts): von Krogh G. Topical treatment of penile condylomata acuminata with podophyllin, podophyllotoxin and colchicine. A comparative study. Acta Derm Venereol. 1978;58(2):163-8. PMID: 76398.
Congestive Hepatopathy (Liver congestion): Roohullah, Sayyad, and Zahid Khan. "Review on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Homoeopathic Treatment." International Journal of Research in AYUSH and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2017): 184-192.
Hepatic Disease (Any disease of the liver): Roohullah, Sayyad, and Zahid Khan. "Review on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Homoeopathic Treatment." International Journal of Research in AYUSH and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2017): 184-192.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Genital warts): von Krogh G. Topical treatment of penile condylomata acuminata with podophyllin, podophyllotoxin and colchicine. A comparative study. Acta Derm Venereol. 1978;58(2):163-8. PMID: 76398.
Leukoplakia (Supports the function of the liver): Brasileiro, Cláudia B., Mauro Henrique NG Abreu, and Ricardo A. Mesquita. "Critical review of topical management of oral hairy leukoplakia." World Journal of Clinical Cases: WJCC 2, no. 7 (2014): 253.
Steatorrhea (Oily stool): Roohullah, Sayyad, and Zahid Khan. "Review on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Homoeopathic Treatment." International Journal of Research in AYUSH and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2017): 184-192.
Warts: Colantonio S, Rivers JK. Botanicals With Dermatologic Properties Derived From First Nations Healing: Part 2-Plants and Algae. J Cutan Med Surg. 2017 Jul/Aug;21(4):299-307. doi: 10.1177/1203475416683390. Epub 2016 Dec 19. PMID: 28300437.
Medicinal Actions:
Anthelmintic,
Anticancer,
Antitumor,
Cathartic,
Cholagogue,
Emetic,
Hepatic,
Laxative
This plant has been shown, by scientific studies, to exibit the following medicinal actions. The fact that studies concerning all of the traditional medicinal actions listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said actions are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopia prior to the rise of allopathic medicine.
Anticancer (Prevents or delays the development of cancer): Singh, Natasha, and Priya Agrawal. "A comprehensive review on the pharmacognostic and toxicological profile of Podophyllum peltatum (Bajiaolian)." Pharmacological Research-Modern Chinese Medicine 10 (2024): 100353.
Antitumor (Inhibits the growth of tumors): Sinkule JA. Etoposide: a semisynthetic epipodophyllotoxin. Chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects and use as an antineoplastic agent. Pharmacotherapy. 1984 Mar-Apr;4(2):61-73. doi: 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1984.tb03318.x. PMID: 6326063.
Cathartic (Cleans waste material from the whole digestive system): Singh, Natasha, and Priya Agrawal. "A comprehensive review on the pharmacognostic and toxicological profile of Podophyllum peltatum (Bajiaolian)." Pharmacological Research-Modern Chinese Medicine 10 (2024): 100353.
Cholagogue (Stimulates the flow of bile from the liver): Chaurasia, O. P., B. Ballabh, A. Tayade, Raj Kumar, G. Phani Kumar, and S. B. Singh. "Podophyllum L.: An endergered and anticancerous medicinal plant–An overview."
Emetic (Causes vomiting): Chaurasia, O. P., B. Ballabh, A. Tayade, Raj Kumar, G. Phani Kumar, and S. B. Singh. "Podophyllum L.: An endergered and anticancerous medicinal plant–An overview." (2012).
Hepatic (Supports the function of the liver): Chaurasia, O. P., B. Ballabh, A. Tayade, Raj Kumar, G. Phani Kumar, and S. B. Singh. "Podophyllum L.: An endergered and anticancerous medicinal plant–An overview." (2012).
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Genital warts): von Krogh G. Topical treatment of penile condylomata acuminata with podophyllin, podophyllotoxin and colchicine. A comparative study. Acta Derm Venereol. 1978;58(2):163-8. PMID: 76398.
Laxative (Promotes contractions of the bowels to stimulate removal of feces): Chaurasia, O. P., B. Ballabh, A. Tayade, Raj Kumar, G. Phani Kumar, and S. B. Singh. "Podophyllum L.: An endergered and anticancerous medicinal plant–An overview." (2012).
Cautions According To WebMD
Contra-Indications
This plant should only be used under the supervision of a qualified medical professional.
Possible Side Effects:
When taken by mouth: Podophyllum is likely unsafe. It is poisonous and may cause serious side effects, including death.
When applied to the skin: Podophyllum resin (podophyllin) is possibly safe when used short-term. But it is likely unsafe when applied in high doses, to large areas, or to damaged skin. Applying it to broken skin can lead to poisoning. Podophyllotoxin (podofilox, Condylox), a chemical found in podophyllum, is less toxic and seems to work better than podophyllum resin, so it's often used instead.
Podophyllum is likely unsafe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin while pregnant or breast-feeding. There have been reports of death and multiple birth defects. Avoid use.
Possible Interactions:
None Known
Herbal Preparations For Podophyllum peltatum
Infused Oil
Part Used: Roots/Rhizome
Plant State: Fresh or Dried
In a quart mason jar, thoroughly mix 1 ounce of dried chopped or ground roots/rhizome and 6 ounces by weight of the oil of your choice. Cover the jar and place in a sunny spot for a month or so. Strain your oil, return to the cleaned jar and store in the refrigerator until needed.
Crock Pot Method: (My favorite)
Place 1 ounce of dried, or 2 ounces of fresh, roots/rhizome and 6 ounces by weight of grape seed oil into a crock pot. Mix thoroughly, set the dial to its lowest setting, and allow to heat uncovered for 12 hours. After this time has elapsed, place the cover on the crock pot and turn the switch to off. Allow the pot to sit covered until the following morning. Then turn the crock pot once again to its lowest setting, remove the cover, and allow to heat uncovered for an additional 12 hours. Once this time has elapsed, allow the oil to cool enough that you can touch it without burning yourself, and then strain the plant material out. Now place the strained infused oil into a pint-sized mason jar and store it in the refrigerator until needed. (When straining my infused oils, I place a coffee filter into a fine metal sieve, and set the sieve over a glass bowl. I then pour the mixture into the strainer, and let it sit until all the oil has drained. Once it appears that it has completely drained, you will notice that there is much less than the 6 ounces of oil you started with. I usually take a large wooded spoon, or something else heavy, and pack the mixture into the strainer. I am always surprised how much oil is still released from the plant material. You can expect to yield just over 5 ounces by weight of your infused oil)
Dosage: You can apply infused oil topically to warts up to 3 times daily as needed. You can also follow the directions below to turn your infused oil into an ointment or salve.
Ointment or Salve
Infused oils are turned into ointments and salves. I have found a 5:1 ration by weight of infused oil to bees wax yields the best consistency of ointment. In a medium saucepan, heat 5 ounces, by weight, of your previously prepared infused oil over low heat. When the oil is hot enough, stir in 1 ounce of grated bees wax. When the wax is completely dissolved, dip the back of a clean cold spoon into the mixture. Allow it to cool and solidify. If you find the ointment is too hard, add a little more oil, if you find it is too soft, add a little more bees wax, until you reach your desired consistency.
Dosage: Apply topically to warts up to three times daily as needed.
Tincture
Part Used: Root
Plant State: Dried
Alcohol Percentage: 75%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:5
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Place 150 grams of chopped root into a quart mason jar. Now pour in 750 ml of the highest percentage of alcohol you can purchase (I use 151 proof Everclear). Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar, being careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
This plant can have dangerous side effects. Special attention must be paid to ensure proper dosing. Before taking, always discuss with your physician, the use of any herbal medicine.
Dosage: 10-20 drops daily.
