Himalayan May apple

Himalayan May apple
	Himalayan May apple ( Podophyllum hexandrum )
Systematics
	Eudicotyledons
Order :	Buttercups (Ranunculales)
Family :	Barberry family (Berberidaceae)
Subfamily :	Berberidoideae
Genre :	Foot leaves ( Podophyllum )
Type :	Himalayan May apple
Scientific name
	Podophyllum hexandrum
	Royle

The Himalayan May apple ( Podophyllum hexandrum ), also known as the Himalayan foot leaf , is a species of plant in the barberry family (Berberidaceae).

Occurrence

Podophyllum hexandrum thrives at altitudes between 2000 and 3500 meters in and around the Himalayas in the west of eastern Afghanistan in the Himalayas in northern India , Kashmir , Nepal , Pakistan , Bhutan and Sikkim and east to western China and Taiwan . It grows in humus soil on alpine pastures and in bush forests. The plant is protected.

description

The Himalayan May apple is a sparsely branched, perennial herbaceous plant that reaches a maximum height of 50 centimeters. The bright green leaves are lobed.

The rhizome , and according to other sources also the leaves, are poisonous. The ripe fruit is not poisonous, but not tasty.

The hermaphrodite flowers appear in May to June and are whitish-pink. The 5 cm long fruits ripen in July to August and are bright orange-red.

use

The Himalayan May apple is occasionally planted as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens. It is propagated by seeds or division of the rhizome . As a mountain plant, it is very cold-tolerant, but does not tolerate drought.

The Himalayan May apple is poisonous and is used medicinally. The rhizome contains up to 12% of the resin podophyllin , from which up to 50% of the neurotoxin podophyllotoxin with the molecular formula C ₂₂ H ₂₂ O ₈ and a molar mass of 414.4 g / mol can be extracted. Historically, it was used as a laxative and emetic , to treat necrotic and infected wounds, and as an inhibitor against the growth of tumors . The closely related American May apple ( Podophyllum peltatum ) contains a lower concentration of active ingredient, but has been examined in more detail.

Studies with fruit flies have shown effectiveness as an insecticide . An extract from the plant was found to be effective against the effects of gamma radiation on cells in a study with mice .

Systematics

Synonyms are Podophyllum emodi Wall. ex Honigberger, Sinopodophyllum emodi (Wall. ex Honigberger) TSYing, Podophyllum emodi Wall. ex Hook. f. & Thomson.

The systematic classification is controversial:

For some authors it is as Podophyllum hexandrum Royle the only species of the Hexandra section within the genus Podophyllum .

Other authors describe this species as Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying in its own monotypical genus Sinopodophyllum TSYing in Acta Phytotax. Sin. , 17 (1): 15, 1979 provided.