(Podophyilin is a mitotic poison.)
May Apple of North America is equated with Podophyllum peltatum Linn. The main lignin is podophyllotoxin. Podophyllum hexandrum contains similar lignans with the exception of alpha-and beta-peltatins, which are reportedly absent; the concentration of podophyllotoxin is up to 4.3%. P peltatum contains about 0.25% and the Taiwanese species P pleianthum 0.1% podophyllotoxin.
(Podophyllotoxin is a valuable hg- nm, as it is used for the synthesis of chemically administered cytostatic etoposide and tenoposide.)
Podophyllum sikkimensis
R. Chatterji & Mukerjee.
Family Berberidaceae.
Habitat Sikkim.
Folk Paapraa (var.).
Action Resin—used against
tumours.
The rhizomes and roots yield 7.5% resin which gave a lignin lactone desig
504 Pogostemon benghalensis Kuntze.
nated sikkimotoxin; also 3-galactosidyl quercetin, quercetin and isorhamnetin. It is yet to be established that the lactone possesses properties analogous to those of podophyllotoxin.
Pogostemon benghalensis
Kuntze.
Synonym P plectranthoides Desf. Family Labiatae; Lam iaceae.
Habitat Throughout greater part of India.
Folk Ishwar-jataa. Jui-lataa (Bihar, Bengal). Phaangalaa (Maharashtra).
Action Root—used in haemorrhage, especially in uterine
haemorrhage. Leaf—styptic; used
for cleaning wounds. Essential
oil—antifungal. Acetone extract—
insecticidal, insect repellent.
Pogostemonpubescens Benth., synonym P parvflorus Benth. is also known as Phaangalaa in Maharashtra. Aerial part exhibits antifungal and leaf antibacterial activity.
Sesquiterpene lactone, caryophyllen-9-beta-10-olide, has been isolated from the whole plant.
Pogostemon purpurascens Dalz. (Manipur and South-western India) also possesses properties similar to
