Indian podophyllum consists of the dried pieces of rhizomes and roots of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, belonging to family Berberidaceae.
INDIAN PODOPHYLLUM
Synonyms
Rhizoma Podophylli Indici, Indian podophyllum.
Biological Source
Indian podophyllum consists of the dried pieces of rhizomes
and roots of Podophyllum hexandrum
Royle, belonging to family Berberidaceae.
Geographical Source
The plant grows abundantly in the higher slopes of the
Himalayas in India and Pakistan. It is also found in Afghani-stan and Tibet.
Collection and Preparation
The plants which grow as a perennial herb are dug up in the
autumn. The rhizomes are generally collected from above two years old plant.
The rhizomes are washed with water, cut into small pieces, and dried in the
sun.
Characteristics
Indian podophyllum rhizomes are subcylindrical, flattened
pieces with a very short internode as compared to American podophyllum. The
pieces are about 2–4 cm long and 1–2 cm in diameter, it shows the scars due to
cutting of branches and roots. Rhizomes are brownish coloured with
characteristic odour and acrid, bitter taste. It breaks with horny fracture but
very hard. The transversely cut surface shows a ring of vascular bundle and
central pith.
Microscopy
A transverse section of the Indian podophyllum rhizome shows
the thin-walled, tubular cork. Cortex is made up of cellular parenchyma
containing large number of starch grains and cluster crystals of calcium
oxalate. The vascular bundles are arranged in a ring with phloem on the outer
side and a bit irregular xylem at the inner side. In certain regions
fibrovascular bundles are found entering the aerial stem. The central pith
shows the crystals of calcium oxalate. The major distinguishing features in P. hexandrum and P. peltatum are the size
of the starch grain and the crystals of calcium
oxalate.
Chemical Constituents
The most of the chemical constituents of Indian podophyllum are similar to that of P. peltatum. Podophyllum resin present to the extent of 6–12% which contains about 40% podophyllotoxin.
Chemical Tests
The reaction of podophyllum resin alcoholic extract with
strong solution of copper acetate develops brown precipitate for Indian
podophyllum, whereas Ameri-can drug produces green colour without precipi-tate.
Uses
P. hexandrum closely resembles P. peltatum in its pharma-cological
activity. It is largely used for the preparation of podophyllum resin.
Marketed Products
It is one of the ingredients of the preparation known as
Podowart (Shalaks Pharmaceuticals).
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