Uses & Effectiveness

Overview

Podophyllum (Podophyllum hexandrum) is a plant. The entire plant is poisonous except for the ripe fruit. The plant resin (podophyllin) is used on the skin.

The podophyllum resin comes from the plant rhizome (root). It contains antioxidants and also toxic chemicals.

People use the podophyllum resin (podophyllin) for the removal of warts, including plantar warts and genital warts, and corns. It is also used for white patches on the tongue in people with weakened immune systems (hairy leukoplakia), and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.

Don’t confuse podophyllum with European mandrake or bryonia. These are not the same.

Podophyllum is a genus of plants that contains the species Podophyllum peltatum, commonly known as Mayapple, which is a great source of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant properties, protecting our cells from damage and supporting healthy skin and immune system function.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Podophyllum is likely unsafe. It is poisonous and may cause serious side effects, including death.

When applied to the skin: Podophyllum resin (podophyllin) is possibly safe when used short-term. But it is likely unsafe when applied in high doses, to large areas, or to damaged skin. Applying it to broken skin can lead to poisoning. Podophyllotoxin (podofilox, Condylox), a chemical found in podophyllum, is less toxic and seems to work better than podophyllum resin, so it’s often used instead.

Interactions

We currently have no information for PODOPHYLLUM overview.

Special Precautionsand Warnings

When taken by mouth: Podophyllum is likely unsafe. It is poisonous and may cause serious side effects, including death.

When applied to the skin: Podophyllum resin (podophyllin) is possibly safe when used short-term. But it is likely unsafe when applied in high doses, to large areas, or to damaged skin. Applying it to broken skin can lead to poisoning. Podophyllotoxin (podofilox, Condylox), a chemical found in podophyllum, is less toxic and seems to work better than podophyllum resin, so it’s often used instead.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Podophyllum is likely unsafe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin while pregnant or breast-feeding. There have been reports of death and multiple birth defects. Avoid use.

Dosing

There isn’t enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of podophyllum might be. Taking podophyllum by mouth is unsafe and can lead to poisoning. Speak with a healthcare provider before applying any podophyllum products to the skin.