[[File:Mayapple by IvanTortuga.jpg|thumb|right|''Laghu patra'' , ''Podophyllum'']]
Podophyllum '''Sinopodophyllum''' is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Berberidaceae, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. In the past, several species were included in the genus, but all but one have been transferred to other genera (Dysosma, Pilea, and Sinopodophyllum). The one remaining species is Podophyllum peltatum, with common names mayapple <ref name="mayapple" />, American mandrake, wild mandrake, and ground lemon. It is widespread across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Mayapples are woodland plants==Uses=={{Uses|cancer}}, typically growing in colonies derived from a single root. The stems grow to 30–40 cm tall{{Uses|ovarian cancer}}, with palmately lobed umbrella-like leaves up to 20–40 cm diameter with 3–9 shallowly to deeply cut lobes. The plants produce several stems from a creeping underground rhizome; some stems bear a single leaf and do not produce any flower or fruit{{Uses|Snakebites}}, while flowering stems produce a pair or more leaves with 1–8 flowers in the axil between the apical leaves. The flowers are white{{Uses|Curing liver disorders}}, yellow or red{{Uses|Skin eruptions}}, 2–6 cm diameter with 6–9 petals{{Uses|Blotches}}, and mature into a green{{Uses|Pimples}}, yellow or red fleshy fruit 2–5 cm long.{{Uses|Diarrhea}}, {{Uses|Sore throats}}
All the parts of the plant are poisonous, including the green fruit, but once the fruit has turned yellow, it can be safely eaten with the seeds removed==Parts Used=={{Parts Used|Fruits}}.
The substance they contain (podophyllotoxin or podophyllin) is used as a purgative and as a cytostatic. Posalfilin is a drug containing podophyllin and salicylic acid that is used to treat the plantar wart.==Chemical Composition==Isopicrodeoxypodophyllotoxin, 3beta-hydroxy, 7alpha-methoxy, 24beta-ethyl, cholest-5-ene, 7beta-hydroxysitosterol , beta-sitosterol, daucosterol, alpha-glyceryl palmitate, alpha-D-glucose, 5-hydromethyl furaldehyde<ref name="chemical composition"/>
They are also grown as ornamental plants for their attractive foliage and flowers==Common names=={{Common names|kn=|ml=|sa=Laghu patra, Vanavrintaka|ta=|te=|hi=Ban kakri|en=Himalayan May Apple, Indian may apple}} ==Properties==Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.===Dravya===
Though the common name is mayapple===Rasa===Tikta (Bitter), it is the flower that appears in early MayKashaya (Astringent)===Guna===Laghu (Light), not the "apple". The fruit or "apple" is produced early summer and ripens later in summer.Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)===Veerya===Ushna (Hot)===Vipaka===Katu (Pungent)===Karma===Kapha, Vata===Prabhava===
Many species of plants have mycorrhizae to assist with nutrient uptake in infertile conditions. Mayapple plants are considered obligately dependent upon such mycorrhizae, although it may also be facultatively dependent upon rhizome age and soil nutrient levels. Plants are commonly found infected by the rust Allodus podophylli, appearing as honeycomb-patterned orange colonies under the leaves, and yellowish lesions on the upper surface.==Habit=={{Habit|Herb}}
==Identification==
===Leaf===
{{Leaf|Simple|Alternate|Leaves are rounded in outline, 10-25 cm long, deeply cut into 3 ovate, toothed lobes, sometimes further lobed}}<ref name="Leaf"/>
===Flower===
{{Flower|Unisexual|2-4cm long|white or pale|6|Flowering: May-August}}
== Toxicity =Fruit==={{Fruit||2.5-5 cme|Fruit is a large scarlet or reddish berry||many}} ===Other features===
The unripe green fruit is toxic. The ripened yellow fruit is edible ==List of Ayurvedic medicine in small amounts, though when consumed in large amounts which the fruit is poisonous. The rhizome, foliage and roots are also poisonous. Mayapple contains podophyllotoxin, which herb is highly toxic if consumed, but can be used ==* [[Vishatinduka Taila]] as a topical medicine.''root juice extract''
==Where to get the saplings==
==Mode of Propagation==
{{Propagation|Seeds}}, {{Propagation|Cuttings}}.
==How to plant/cultivate==
Prefers a moist peaty soil and filtered light or shade[111, 187]. Grows well in a moist open woodland[28, 31, 200]. Hardy to about -20°c<ref name="How to plant/cultivate"/>
== Medicinal uses Commonly seen growing in areas=={{Commonly seen|Scrub forests and alpine meadows}}, {{Commonly seen|Humus rich soils}}, {{Commonly seen|Himalayas}}.
Mayapple has been used by American Indians as an emetic, cathartic, and antihelmintic agent. They also boiled the poisonous root, and used the water to cure stomach aches.[citation needed] The rhizome of the mayapple has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, originally by indigenous inhabitants and later by other settlers==Photo Gallery==<gallery class="left" caption="" widths="140px" heights="140px">Podophyllum hexandrum (Betty Ford Alpine Gardens).jpg
Mayapple can be also used topically for warts, and two of its derivatives, etoposide and teniposide, have shown promise in treating some malignant neoplasms Podophyllum hexandrum (Kowal garden).jpg
==Common name== Podophyllum hexandrum - Bergianska trädgården - Stockholm, Sweden - DSC00531.JPG
* '''English''' Podophyllum hexandrum - Himalayan May Apple* '''Hindi''' GBA Viote 09- बन ककडी 16.jpg
== Refrences ==</gallery>
==References== <references><ref name="mayapplechemical composition">[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23627125 "chemical constituents"]</ref> <ref name="Leaf">[http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Himalayan%20May%20Apple.html "flowersofindiaplant description"]</ref> <ref name="How to plant/cultivate">[https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Podophyllum+hexandrum "Cultivation details"]</ref>
</references>
== External Links ==*[https://enacademic.wikipediaoup.com/chromsci/article/54/2/175/2754786 Sinopodophyllum on science direct]* [https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/297582/Sinopodophyllum-hexandrum/Details Sinopodophyllum on rhs.org.uk]* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/wikiPMC4198291/Podophyllum "wikipedia"Genetic Diversity and Structure of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum]
[[Category:Herbs]]
