306 SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS 



The drug has a characteristic but not strong odour, and a bitter 

 acrid taste. 



The student should observe 



(a) The straight cylindrical rhizome with occasional stein, root, 



and leaf scars, 



(b) The structure shown by the transverse section. 



Constituents. The most important constituents of podophyllum 

 rhizome are a neutral crystalline substance, podophyllotoxin, and 

 a resin, podophylloresin, both of which are purgative. In addition 

 the drug contains picropodophyllin, quercetin, and starch. It yields 

 about 3 per cent, of ash on incineration. 



Podophyllotoxin, C 15 H 14 O 6 (0*2 to I'O per cent.) crystallises in colourless 

 needles melting at 117, and easily soluble in alcohol, chloroform, and boiling 

 benzene, but very sparingly in water. Alkalies convert it readily into salts 

 of an unstable gelatinous acid, podophyllic acid, which easily loses water and 

 passes into crystalline, non-toxic picropodophyllin (m.pt. 227), which is isomeric 

 with podophyllotoxin. 



Podophylloresin is an amorphous resin of the nature of which little definite 

 is known. 



Quercetin, C 15 H 10 7 ,2H 2 O, is contained in bearberry leaves and other drugs 

 (see p. 42). 



A concentrated alcoholic tincture of the drug poured into 10 volumes 

 of acidified water throws down a copious resinous precipitate, podo- 

 phyllin (yield from 3 to 7*7 or even 16 per cent. ; roots as rich as 

 rhizome). This podophyllin contains as its chief constituents podo- 

 phyllotoxin (about 20 per cent.), podophylloresin, and picropo- 

 dophyllin, together with quercetin and other bodies. The yield of 

 podophyllin is very variable, but whether this is due to the time at 

 which the rhizome is collected or to other conditions is not at present 

 definitely known. The rhizome is said to be most active in the spring 

 when beginning to shoot. 



Uses. Podophyllum rhizome, or at least the podophyllin obtained 

 from it, is a gastro-intestinal irritant. In large doses it produces 

 inflammation of the stomach and intestines which has proved fatal. 

 In moderate doses it is a drastic purgative with some cholagoguic 

 action, and is much used in cases of constipation from hepatic trouble. 



INDIAN PODOPHYLLUM RHIZOME 



(Rhizoma Podophylli Indici) 



Source, &C. Indian podophyllum rhizome is obtained from Podo- 

 phyllum Emodi, Wallich (N.O. Berberidece), a plant growing freely on 

 the lower slopes of the Himalayas. 



