P-Peltatin

The lignan constituents of the two roots are the same, but the proportions are markedly different. The Indian root contains chiefly podophyllotoxin (Figure 4.21) (about 4%) and 4 -demethylpodophyllotoxin (about 0.45%). The main components in the American root are podophyllotoxin (about 0.25%), p-peltatin (about 0.33%) and a-peltatin (about 0.25%). Desoxypodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxone are also present in both plants, as are the glucosides of podophyllotoxin, 4-demethylpodophyllotoxin, and the peltatins, though preparation of the resin results in considerable losses of the water-soluble glucosides. 

The resin prepared from the dried rhizome and roots of Podophyllum peltatum contains podophyllotoxin, a-pelta-tin, and P-peltatin. When apphed topically, it is a strong irritant to the skin and mucous membranes and can lead to poisoning because of systemic absorption. When taken by mouth, it has a drastic laxative action and produces violent peristalsis. Ingestion of large doses can result in... 

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... 

The resin podophylUn (3) contains podophyUotoxin, a- and p-peltatin, and very smaU amounts oHignan glucosides. 

Considerable progress has also been made in elucidating the biosynthetic pathway leading to the podophyllotoxin series (scheme 2) [38,39]. Dewick et al. have shown that demethylyatein (15a) and yatein (15b) are precursors of demethylpodophyllotoxin (18a) and podophyllotoxin (18b) respectively. Furthermore, 4 -demethyl-deoxypodophyllotoxin (16a) and deoxypodophyllotoxin (16b) undergo aromatic hydroxylation to yield a-peltatin (17a) and p-peltatin (17b) respectively. They have also shown that (-)-matairesinol (13) is efficiently incorporated into 4 -demethylpodophyllotoxin (18a), podophyllotoxin (18b), a-peltatin (17a) and p-peltatin (17b). These facts have been interpreted as indicating that matairesinol is a common precursor of both the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl series. 

Podophyllin or podophyllum resin is the alcohol-soluble and water-insoluble resinous material present in podophyllum in 3-6%. Due to the method of preparation, podophyllin generally contains little or no lignan glucosides. Most of the active principles present are the lignan aglycones consisting of about 20% podophyllotoxin, 13% P-peltatin,... 

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