Mandrake root

Epipodophyllotoxins (etoposide, teniposide) are derived from mandrake root (Podophyllum peltatum). They inhibit topoisomerase H thus causing double strand breaks. Cells in S- and G2-phases are most sensitive. Unwanted effects include nausea and vomiting, myelosuppression, and hair loss. 

Podophyllum resin, an alcoholic extract of Podophyllum peltatum, commonly known as mandrake root or May apple, is used in the treatment of condyloma acuminatum and other verrucae. It is a mixture of podophyllotoxin, and peltatin, desoxypodophyllotoxin, dehydropodophyllotoxin, and other compounds. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and compound tincture of benzoin. 

The family Solanaceae, made up of more than 2,400 species, is especially noteworthy. Many of its members contain the alkaloids atropine (dl-hyoscyamine) and scopolamine (hyosdne). Atropine shows up in mandrake root, henbane and thorn apple it constitutes just over 4.5 percent of the asthmatic preparation called Asthmador. Schultes and Hofmann claim that there are no reports on the effects of atropine alone "which could explain the addition of belladonna as an ingredient of magic brews in medieval Europe. But Hoffer and Osmond recall several historical incidents that attest to its psychoactivity. One story involved a family of five who in 1963 ate tomato plants that had been grafted onto jimson weed, producing 6.36 mg. of atropine per tomato "All five developed deliroid reactions of varying intensity and some had to be treated in the hospital several days. This seems to be the first known instance of hallucinogenic tomatoes. ... 

Plant alcohol, or ethanol, is called spirit because that s what it is—the spirit of a plant the same whether made from grapes, grain or mandrake roots, thus the universal principle of the vegetable kingdom. The individual essence of a plant— its soul— is found in its essential oil (a rose has many names, but its fragrance is unique). The body, thirdly, is an invisible salt, extracted from the plant s ashes by separating the subtle from the gross , as we shall see later. 

It may be mentioned in passing that comfrey was cited as a folkloric herb with curative powers but it is not mentioned that toxic PAs are a component (e.g., in Hoffman, 1999, pp. 76,90). As for alkaloids, among the anticancer agents mentioned are the Vinca alkaloids used successfully against childhood leukania, and the alkaloids scopolamine and hyoscyamine that occur in the mandrake root (and in other plants, such as henbane). 

Tincture of mandrake (Podo-phyllin). Make 1 pint of tincture from 3 ounces mandrake-root in powder, with alcohol, either by maceration or percolation. (Am. Dis.)... 

Vegetable Anti-bilious Pills. Take grains pulverized compound extract of colocynth, and 6 grains podophyllin (extract of may-apple or mandrake root). Make into 24 pills. 

Podophylli rhizoma Podophyllum May apple. Mandrake root Podophyllum peltatum L. Berberidaceae 3%-6% resin (--lb compounds) with 0.2%-l% podophyllotoxin and the p-D-glucoside a-, p-peltatine and their p-D-glucosides Picropodophyllin (an artefact due to extraction procedures) Kg. 5... 

Phokas, G.F. 1959. Contribution to theD -nition of the Drastic Components of Mandrake Root. Thesis, Univ. of Athens, Greece. 

The term anticholinergic as used in the context of this discussion refers more specifically to compounds that selectively block the brain s muscarinic receptor (now known to consist of several sub-types). Atropine (hyoscyamine) and scopolamine (hyoscine) are the most familiar medicinal anticholinergics. Historically, they were obtained from of the botanical family Solanaceae, which includes Jimson (or loco) weed, mandrake root, henbane, belladonna, and nightshade. Atropine and scopolamine are esters of tropic acid and contain a tertiary nitrogen moiety. This gives them the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and block central muscarinic cholinergic receptors by competitive inhibition with acetylcholine, the natural neurotransmitter at these sites. 

Mandrake root Mandragora officinamm 1 Anticholinergic alkaloids (see p 84)... 

In the early to mid-1960s - the period of growing chemical use in Vietnam - the Army conducted a major ongoing review of its CBW policy. This study, codenamed Mandrake Root, was the most comprehensive study ever made to assess the potential value of chemical and biological weapons in support of land combat and to establish definitive requirements for weapons and protective equipment .Few details about the study have been published. It appears to have been an inter-agency study, comprehensive in scope, but somewhat uncoordinated with no clear sense of direction. This may in part explain the apparent confusion in the Vietnam War, over the extent to which authorisation of the use of riot control agents was delegated (see above). The study led to alterations to the R D requirement . ... 

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