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North American herb with poisonous root stock and edible though insipid fruit

North American herb with poisonous root stock and edible though insipid fruit

A plant of the genus PODOPHYLLUM, family BERBERIDACEAE (sometimes classified as Podophyllaceae) which is the source of PODOPHYLLIN and of PODOPHYLLOTOXIN that inhibits DNA TOPOISOMERASES TYPE II. It is different from the European mandrake, MANDRAGORA.

A common plant throughout North America. The fruit is eatable, and esteemed by many. The leaves are said to be poisonous. The root or rhizoma, Podophyllum (Ph. U.S.), is purgative in the dose of 20 grains. It has also been used as an anthelmintic.

May-apple or mandrake: the root is purgative.

See Podophyllum montanum.