Indian podophyllum is an upright, juicy herb with a creeping root stalk. It has flower-bearing vertical branches, foliaged in the top. The plant has serrated, purple-speckled leaves, profoundly separated in 3 to 5 lobes. The flowers are white or pinkish, cup-shaped and single. The fruit is egg-shaped and crimson in colour. The dried rhizomes of the plant make up the drug.
The vigorous principle of podophyllum is hidden in the resinous mixture, known as podophyllin. The other component of the root is podophyllotoxin. The rhizomes produce podophyllol, a viscous resin, quercetin and podophyllotoxin.
According to Viehoever and Mack (1938), the only dynamic crystallisable substance sequestered from both podophyllum and podophyllin is podophyllotoxin. Possibly it is not the principal purgative principle, which is yet to be sequestered.
Methods of usage
Indian podophyllum is functional in cases of both mild and severe diseases, like chronic constipation, skin cancer, serving as a purgative.
Healing Power and Medicinal Properties of Indian podophyllum
The herb podophyllum is used as a hepatic stimulant and as a driving force to encourage the flow of bile. It is also beneficial as a laxative and as a drug to discipline disordered processes of nutrition and to reinstate the regular function of the system. It is an acrid vitaliser, aiding to induce vomiting.
Chronic Constipation cured by Indian podophyllum
The drug is exceedingly advantageous for treating acute constipation and is used as a laxative. The harmless single dosage is 0.01 gm. Though the action is slackened, yet it has a substantial impact. In large dosages, it can cause piercing botheration and colic. It should thus be given either in combination with belladonna or Indian aloe.
Skin Disorders cured by Indian podophyllum
Podophyllum is known to be of immense use in several skin diseases and neoplasmic outgrowths. It has taken on worthiness in recent years for its promising usage in arresting skin cancer.
Precautions - Podophyllum highly annoys the eyes and the mucous membranes. The resin does not affect normal skin, but may be assimilated by bothered or abrased skin and helps in purgation. It is an efficient purgative, but in deadly or over doses, it gives rise to acute enteritis or inflammation of the small intestines, which may sometimes lead to in death.
