Mandrake Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
American Mandrake, Citronnier, Citron Sauvage, Duck's Foot, Devil's Apple, Ground Lemon, Hog Apple, Himalayan Mayapple, Indian Podophyllum, Indian Apple, Ipécacuanha de la Caroline, Mayapple, Mandrake, Pied de Canard, Pa Giao Lian, Podophylli Pelati Resina/Rhizoma, Podófilo, Podophylle Pelté, Podophylle en Bouclier, Podophylle, Podophylline, Podophylle Indien, Podophylle à Feuilles Peltées, Podophyllin, Pomme de Mai, Raccoon Berry, Umbrella Plant, Vegetable Mercury, Vegetable Calomel, Wild Mandrake, Wild Lemon
CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for European Mandrake and Bryonia (English Mandrake).
Scientific Name
Podophyllum Peltaturm
Why Do People Use Mandrake?
The oral preparations of Podophyllum peltatum (Mandrake), like mandrake powder, are used for liver ailments and jaundice, for cancer treatment, as a cathartic, syphilis and for fever. It is also utilized as an antidote for snake bites, as an anthelmintic, for hearing loss and as an abortifacient.
Its topical application can be used for plantar warts including topical warts, for papillomas and for condyloma acuminata (venereal warts). It is also applied for the treatment of oral hairy leukoplakia.
Mandrake powder is utilized to cure gynecologic infections.
Is It Safe To Use?
Possibly Safe - Topical and appropriate usage of mandrake is thought to be safe. Systemic toxicity risks become high if applied to open lesions, large areas, mucous membranes or normal skin areas. Another mandrake’s constituent known as Podophyllotoxin is safer and has largely changed mandrake.
Likely Unsafe - Oral usage of mandrake is considered unsafe. It may have lethal side effects. Fatalities have been reported from topical application and oral ingestion.
Likely Unsafe for Breastfeeding and Pregnant Females - Mandrake should be avoided by breastfeeding and pregnant females because there is lack of authentic and unreliable information available in this regard.
How Effective Is Mandrake?
Mandrake powder is considered safe in following condition.
Genital Warts (condylomata acuminata) - Topical application of mandrake resin, also known as podophyllin, in the form of a 10% - 25% suspension in benzoin tincture, is beneficial for the removal of anogenital warts caused by human papillomavirus. However, mandrake constituent known as podophyllotoxin is generally utilized because it is less toxic. Podophyllotoxin (Condylox, podofilox) is an approved drug by FDA. Podophyllotoxin may be more productive as compared to mandrake.
There is scarce information available to the rate safety of mandrake.
Hairy Leukoplakia - According to some clinical experiments, a single topical application of 25% mandrake resin in benzoin tincture may lead to remission of lesions of oral hairy leukoplakia. However, more confirmations are required.
How Mandrake Works?
The most effective parts of Podophyllum peltatum are the resin, rhizome and root. Podophyllin sap is obtained from the rhizome. The effective constituents in mandrake gum are kampherol, podophyllotoxin and quercetin. Podophyllum appears to be cytotoxic by effecting the cell mitosis at metaphas. Podophyllum also seems to enhance the fusion of amino acids into proteins and restrain purine union and joining of purines into RNA. It also seems to restrain mitochondrial activity. Anti-cancer medications etoposide teniposide (Vumon) and (Etophophos, VP-16, Vepesid) are a semisynthetic subsidiary of podophyllotoxin. The flavonoids kampherol and quercetin are mutagenic. Initial studies suggest that a fluid extract of quercetin, podophyllum and podophyllotoxin may have antioxidant impacts and protect against radiation side effects. These podophyllum constituents also appear to enhance apoptosis (cell death) and phagocytosis of cells adversely effected by radiation, clearing a path for new cells. Podophyllum also contains the poison alpha- and beta-peltatin and podophylloresin. The whole plant, with the exception of the fruit, is toxic. Sufficient assimilation happens through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and skin.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Mandrake?
Orally - Mandrake resin may cause severe side effects such vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, hypertension or hypotension, tachypnea and dyspnea, tachycardia, cardiotoxicity, bone marrow depression, hallucinations, polyneuropathy, hepatotoxicity, coma, renal failure, paralysis, ileus, loss of reflexes and even cause death. Oral intake of as much as 350 mg mandrake powder may lead to death. Extensive topical usage may lead to similar impacts.
Topical dosage of 5 mL 20% solution may cause lethal poisoning. Podophyllum toxicity has been effectively treated utilizing charcoal hemoperfusion.
Podophyllum resin applied to the oral mucosa and tongue can cause irritation and transient loss of taste. Mandrake may cause lethal ulcerations or persistent neuropathies and local irritation. Podophyllotoxin (podophilox) causes milder and fewer adverse effects. Topical application can cause erosions, erythema, itching, burning, pain and tenderness related with wart necrosis.
Chronic usage as a cathartic can cause metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia. Topical or oral usage of podophyllum in pregnancy can lead to death and fetal congenital malformations as well.
How Mandrake Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Not known.
How Mandrake Interacts With Drugs?
Not known.
How Mandrake Interacts With Foods?
There is no known interaction between mandrake powder and different food items.
How Mandrake Interacts With Lab Tests?
Platelets, Leukocytes - Podophyllum resin may lead to pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia.
Liver Function Tests - Podophyllum resin may lead to derangement in liver function tests such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), prothrombin time (PT) and total bilirubin test results.
How Mandrake Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Not known.
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Mandrake?
Topical application of mandrake resin within the range of 10% to 25% suspension in benzoin tincture is applied to affected area which should be not more than 10 square cm with protection of adjacent skin to lessen toxicity level. It should be washed off 4-6 hours after usage. Podophyllum should not be utilized for self-treatment purpose. Podophyllotoxin 0.5% gel is applied two times every day for up to three days and keep doing for 2-4 cycles. It is thought to be safe for patient application.
Comments
Resin of podophyllum is also known as podophyllin. It has also been utilized for laxative purposes. Podophyllin was an active ingredient in Carter's Little Liver Pills.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
