Pod?filo

Related Terms

American mandrake, Araceae (family), bajiaolian, Berberidaceae (family), beta-peltatin, Condylox?, CPH 82, CPH 86, devil's apple, diphyllin, duck's foot, Dysosma pleianthum, epipodophyllotoxin, etoposide 7a, etophos 7b, ground lemon, Hakkakuren, highly purified podophyllotoxin, Himalayan mayapple, hog apple, Indian apple, Indian podophyllum, kampherol, mandrake, mayapple, Podocon-25?, podofilox, Podofin?, podophylli pelati rhizome/resina, podophyllic acid, podophyllin, podophyllinic acid ethylhydrazide, podophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxin-beta-o-benzyliden-glucoside (SP-G), podophyllotoxin derivatives, Podophyllum emodi, Podophyllum hexandrum, Podophyllum hexandrum Royale, podophyllum lignan, Podophyllum peltatum, Podophyllum peltatum L., Podophyllum pleianthum, podophyllum resin, Podophyllum versipelle, Proresid?, quercetin, raccoon berry, RP-1, semisynthetic podophyllotoxin glycosides, Sinopodophyllum emodi, SP-1, Syngonium podophyllum, teniposide 7c, umbrella plant, vegetable mercury, VePesid?, wild lemon, wild mandrake.
Note: This bottom line covers both American mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) and Himalayan mayapple (Podophyllum hexandrum or Podophyllum emodi). Although more research has been conducted on the American species, the Himalayan species has a higher content of the active ingredient podophyllotoxin.
Note: Podophyllum should not be confused with Mandragora officinarum, although both are commonly known as mandrake; podophyllum is potentially toxic when it is taken by mouth.

Background

The roots of the podophyllum plant have a long history among native North American tribes as a laxative or anti-parasite agent. The powdered roots have also used to treat warts and tumorous growths on the skin.
Podophyllotoxin is a compound that comes from the American mayapple. It has been used to make two drugs called etoposide (an anti-cancer agent) and teniposide (an agent that treats leukemia). Podophyllotoxin is also found in the Himalayan mayapple in much greater amounts, but this plant is endangered in the wild. Podophyllotoxin is used in combination chemotherapy to treat lung cancer and a wide variety of tumors.
Extracts of the podophyllum plant are often applied to the skin to treat genital warts, mouth and tongue sores related to HIV, and some skin cancers. Evidence suggests that podophyllum may be effective in the treatment of warts on the penis. However, more research is needed to support podophyllum use for other types of warts.
Early research shows that CPH 82, a form of podophyllum that is taken by mouth, may be useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis. However, when taken by mouth, podophyllum can be lethal and should be avoided.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


Wart treatments applied to the skin include podophyllotoxin and podophyllin, a powder that is made from the podophyllum plant. The brand name drug Condylox? is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of warts in the genital area. Podophyllum preparations have been found to be effective in treating warts on the penis. Further high-quality research is needed before a firm conclusion regarding effectiveness can be made.

 B


Wart treatments applied to the skin include podophyllotoxin and podophyllin, a powder that is made from the podophyllum plant. The brand name drug Condylox? is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of warts in the genital area. Podophyllum preparations have been found to be effective in treating warts on the penis. Further high-quality research is needed before a firm conclusion regarding effectiveness can be made.

 B


Early research suggests that a combination treatment with podophyllin may be an effective treatment for corns. Further high-quality research is needed to determine the effects of podophyllin alone.

 C


Early research suggests that a combination treatment with podophyllin may be an effective treatment for corns. Further high-quality research is needed to determine the effects of podophyllin alone.

 C


Podophyllum may benefit people who have patches or sores in the mouth caused by HIV infection. A 25 percent resin solution has been found to be effective in the treatment of patches on the tongue. High-quality trials are needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

 C


Podophyllum may benefit people who have patches or sores in the mouth caused by HIV infection. A 25 percent resin solution has been found to be effective in the treatment of patches on the tongue. High-quality trials are needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

 C


Early research suggests that podophyllum may benefit people who have rheumatoid arthritis. However, studies are limited due to the potential side effects of podophyllum when taken by mouth, including severe diarrhea. Further study is needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

 C


Early research suggests that podophyllum may benefit people who have rheumatoid arthritis. However, studies are limited due to the potential side effects of podophyllum when taken by mouth, including severe diarrhea. Further study is needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

 C


Early evidence suggests that podophyllum may block cancer cell growth. It may also be an effective treatment when used with radiation therapy for uterine cancer. Further research is needed before a strong conclusion can be made.

 C


Early evidence suggests that podophyllum may block cancer cell growth. It may also be an effective treatment when used with radiation therapy for uterine cancer. Further research is needed before a strong conclusion can be made.

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older):
For rheumatoid arthritis, 300 milligrams of CPH 82 (made with components of podophyllum) has been taken by mouth daily for 12 weeks.
For mouth sores or patches caused by HIV, a 25 percent podophyllum resin solution has been applied to the mouth for 30 days.
For warts on the genitals and feet, 5 milliliters of 0.5 percent podophyllin and 2 percent podophyllin has been applied to the skin twice daily, three days a week for five weeks. A 2-25 percent podophyllin gel has been applied to the vagina every other day or once weekly for 4-8 weeks. A 0.15-0.5 percent podophyllotoxin cream or solution (Wartec?, Warticon?, Stiefel) has been applied to the skin twice daily for three days, sometimes repeated weekly for up to four weeks. A 25 percent podophyllin tincture has been applied to the skin twice weekly for four weeks. A 0.5 percent podophyllotoxin gel has been applied to the skin for 2-7 days or until full recovery. An 8 percent podophyllotoxin solution, 20 percent Podophyllum peltatum solution, or 20 percent Podophyllum emodi solution has been applied to the skin for 6-8 hours before being washed off, with another treatment if necessary one week later.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Podophyllum may cause low blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. Caution is advised in people taking drugs that lower blood pressure.
Podophyllum may also interact with agents for arthritis, agents for the blood, agents for the eyes, agents for the kidneys, agents for mental illnesses, agents for the nervous system, agents for the skin, agents for the stomach and intestines, agents that protect against radiation, agents that are toxic to the liver, agents that regulate heart rate, agents that stimulate the central nervous system, antibiotics, anticancer agents (including paclitaxel and vincristine), laxatives, muscle relaxants, and simvastatin.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

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