American Mandrake, Mayapple, Ground Lemon, Mandrake, Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Physical Characteristics

Podophyllum peltatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from April to October, in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Eastern N. America - Southern Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw, cooked or made into jams, jellies, marmalades, pies etc[1, 2, 4, 43, 101, 183]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[257]. The fruit should only be eaten when it is fully ripe[55, 62, 95], the unripe fruit is strongly laxative[183]. Remove the rind[95]. The fruit is very aromatic[95], and has a peculiar though agreeable flavour[183]. Sweet and acid. Do not eat the seeds[62]. In excess the fruit can cause colic[22, 65, 159]. The fruit is about 5cm long[200].

Medicinal Uses

Antibilious Cancer Cathartic Cytostatic Homeopathy Hydrogogue Purgative Warts Women's complaints American mandrake is a most powerful and useful herbal medicine, exercising an influence on every part of the system and stimulating the glands to healthy action[4]. Its greatest power lies in its action on the liver and bowels[4]. It is a gastro-intestinal irritant, a powerful hepatic and intestinal stimulant[4]. Although often used internally in the past, the plant's cytotoxic action makes it an unsafe remedy for internal use[254]. The root is antibilious, cathartic, cytostatic, hydrogogue and purgative[4, 19, 46, 57, 64, 124, 222]. The plant contains podophyllin, which has an antimiotic effect (it interferes with cell division and can thus prevent the growth of cells). It is, therefore, a possible treatment for cancer, and has been used especially in the treatment of ovarian cancer[46, 51, 57, 64, 65, 124, 244]. However, alopecia is said to be a common side-effect of this treatment[244]. The root is most active medicinally in early spring when it is beginning to shoot[4]. The resin, which is obtained from the root[207], is used in the treatment of warts and has been found to be effective against uterine warts that are sometimes experienced in pregnancy[200, 222]. It is also used in the treatment of small-cell carcinoma[207]. The root is harvested in the autumn and either dried for later use or the resin is extracted[238]. The whole plant, apart from the ripe fruit, is highly poisonous and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[238]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[238]. Large doses have been used to commit suicide[213]. A homeopathic remedy is obtained from the fresh root, harvested before the fruit is ripe[232]. This is used particularly in the treatment of diarrhoea[232].

Known Hazards

The leaves and the roots are very poisonous[1, 4, 19, 62, 222].