Podophyllum is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Berberidaceae, described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753
In the past, several species were included in the genus, but all but one have been transferred to other genera (Dysosma and Sinopodophyllum)
The one remaining species is Podophyllum peltatum, with common names mayapple, American mandrake, wild mandrake, and ground lemon
It is widespread across most of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada
Mayapple contains podophyllotoxin, which is highly toxic if consumed, but can be used as a topical medicine
Mayapple has been used by American Indians as an emetic, cathartic, and antihelmintic agent
The rhizome of the mayapple has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, originally by indigenous inhabitants and later by other settlers
Mayapple can be also used topically as an escharotic in removing warts, and two of its derivatives, etoposide and teniposide, have shown promise in treating some cancers
Etoposide is among the World Health Organisations's list of essential medicines and it is derived from podophyllotoxin
