Podophyllum hexandrum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Podophyllum emodi var. hexandrum
• Podophyllum hexandrum var. axillare
• Podophyllum emodi var. axillare
• Podophyllum emodi var. royleana
• Podophyllum emodi var. chinense
• Podophyllum hexandrum var. emodi
• Podophyllum hexandrum var. bhootanense
• Podophyllum hexandrum var. sikkimense
• Podophyllum hexandrum var. jaeschkei
• Podophyllum hexandrum var. chinense
• Podophyllum emodi var. jaeschkei
• Sinopodophyllum hexandrum var. emodi
• Podophyllum emodi var. bhootanense
• Sinopodophyllum hexandrum
• Podophyllum sikkimense
• Podophyllum emodi
• Sinopodophyllum emodi
• Dysosma emodi
• Sinopodophyllum hexandrum var. chinense
• Sinopodophyllum hexandrum subsp. ramgopalii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Ranunculales and the family Berberidaceae. Its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Podophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. In Middle Europe, its presence is noted within the areas of Czechia and Slovakia. Its range extends into Western Asia, specifically occurring in Afghanistan. Within China, the species is found across South-Central and North-Central territories. Finally, its habitat includes the specific high-altitude region of Qinghai.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Podophyllum hexandrum is characterized by its adaptation to high-altitude montane environments, where it thrives within specific altitudinal gradients. This species is typically found across a broad vertical distribution, ranging from a minimum elevation of 1650 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 4500 m AMSL. Within these mountainous terrains, the plant occupies a preferred ecological niche centered around a mean elevation of 2825 m AMSL, where environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, and soil composition are most conducive to its growth and survival.

Elevational range max:

4500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2825 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1650 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Podophyllum hexandrum is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a long-lived perennial, the plant relies on a robust underground rhizome system that stores nutrients, allowing it to survive dormant periods during unfavorable environmental conditions. Each year, the plant emerges from these rhizomes to undergo a seasonal cycle of vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production. This perennial nature enables the plant to establish a stable presence in its high-altitude habitats, gradually expanding its footprint through both sexual reproduction via seeds and potential vegetative spread through its rhizomatous structure.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Podophyllum hexandrum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, as it is an independent organism. While some classifications may note its terrestrial nature, it does not function as an obligatory epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.35 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

obligatory

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Podophyllum hexandrum is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and distinct morphological traits of its reproductive structures. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that exhibit significant morphological variation; the fruit length typically averages 5.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Similarly, the fruit width shows a mean of 3.25 cm, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. The seeds produced within these fruits are highly uniform in mass, with a consistent mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.03139 g, ensuring a standardized seed size for the next generation of the species.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Fruit length mean:

5.5 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.25 cm

Fruit width min:

2.5 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.03139 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Podophyllum hexandrum has 7 reported plant parts identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root, fruit, seed, flower.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Journal of natural products
5. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Root

1. World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. Scientifica
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. Journal of natural products

Fruit

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Seed

1. Gene
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Frontiers in plant science

Leaf

1. Frontiers in plant science

Stem

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Podophyllum hexandrum has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include podophyllotoxin, Lignans, kaempferol, quercetin, (-)-Matairesinol.

podophyllotoxin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Protoplasma
4. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
5. Cytotechnology

Lignans

1. Cytotechnology
2. Molecular and cellular biochemistry
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(-)-Matairesinol

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

(-)-Pluviatolide

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

(-)-Podophyllotoxin

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

4'-Demethylpodophyllotoxin

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylpodophyllotoxin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Podophyllum hexandrum has 277 reported activities identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Cytotoxic.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta
3. Protoplasma
4. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Protoplasma

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cytotechnology

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Podophyllum hexandrum has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, antimalarial, antioxidant, antiviral, breast cancer.

Cancer

1. Journal of the American Chemical Society
2. Proteome science

Antimalarial

1. Protoplasma

Antioxidant

1. Protoplasma

Antiviral

1. Protoplasma

Breast cancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Dystocia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoma

1. Cytotechnology

Lung cancer

1. Cytotechnology

Menstruation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroblastoma

1. Cytotechnology

Preparations

Podophyllum hexandrum has 15 reported preparations identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include RP-1, Whole extract of rhizomes, cell suspension culture, dichloromethane extract, ethyl acetate fraction-4 (EE-F4).

Rp-1

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Whole extract of rhizomes

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Cell suspension culture

1. Proteome science

Dichloromethane extract

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Ethyl acetate fraction-4 (ee-f4)

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Hydroalcoholic extracted material (rec-2000)

1. Integrative cancer therapies

Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Methanolic fraction-2 (me-f2)

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Resins

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Rhizomes

1. Journal of natural products