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.

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.

Usage Citations

The fact that studies concerning all indications 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 advent 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, Antimutagenic,  Antitumor, Cathartic, Cholagogue, Emetic, Hepatic, Laxative

Action Citations

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 advent 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).