PARTE UTILIZADA=USED PART: rizoma y resina

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA=PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION: laxante, colagogo y antitumoral.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA=CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: El material resinoso (denominado podofilina)proveniente de los rizomas y raíces alcanza una concentración que varía entre un 3 y un 6%. Se presentacomoun polvo amorfo de color marrón rojizo que se oscurece con la luz y de sabor amargo. Está compuesto principalmente por lignanos libres biosintéticamente derivados del ácido cinámico. De ellos se obtienen heterósidos talescomo la podofilotoxina (20%), peltatinas a y b (15%), desoxipodofilotoxina, epipodofilotoxina y podofitoxona.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA =GEOGRAFICAL ZONE: este de Norteamerica

Origins: Deciduous forests in mountain areas, rich woods, thickets, and pastures; prefers shade.

Uses: Improper use of this plant could be very dangerous. The roots and rhizomes are used as a purgative. A resin from the plant, called padophyllin, has been used to treat venereal warts. The resin is extremely allergenic; it exhibits anti-tumor activity. In Appalachia, a tea of bark and roots is used to treat constipation.
Toxicity: Improper use of this plant could be very dangerous. The resin is extremely allergenic.

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In the spring, mayapples appear in wooded areas as patches of shiny-leaved umbrella-like plants that are two to three feet tall. A single white flower blooms under the umbrella and becomes an apple-like fruit that is poisonous until fully ripe. Historically, the Cherokee, Delaware and Iroquois all used mayapple root as a laxative. Mayapple plants contain the poisonous substance podophyllotoxin that has been used to treat warts and genital warts. Podophyllotoxin also is the compound used for the production of some anti-cancer drugs (etoposide, teniposide, etopophos for cancers of the lung and testis and childhood acute leukemia) as well as remedies being used or tested for psoriasis, malaria, and rheumatoid arthritis. Mayapple also is known as American mandrake.

Part used::
Root, Rhizome, Leaves

Origin:
America

1) ALONSO, Jorge R. Tratado de fitomedicina : bases clínicas y farmacológicas. Buenos Aires : ISIS, 1998, 1040 p.

2) A guide to medicinal plants of  Appalachia/ Krochmal, Arnold; Walter, Russel S.; Doughty, Richard M.: USA: U.S.D.A Forest Service:,1959

3) Hull, Kathleen; Photog. Hull, Meredith /Indiana Medical History Museum: Guide to the Medicinal Plant Garden./ USA: Indiana Medical History Museum. 2010. -- p. 58.