Phytochemical Analysis of the American Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Alternative Title
Abstract
The American mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, is a medicinal plant that has been used in Native American traditional medicine and that is the source of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. No phytochemical analyses have been done on the mayapple fruit, which is edible. This study aimed to determine if the toxic compound podophyllotoxin, which is known to be concentrated in the root, is present in the fruit. An additional aim was to further elucidate the chemical composition of the fruit. It was determined that podophyllotoxin, if present, is much less concentrated in the fruit when compared to the root. Chromatographic separation has led to the isolation of compounds that will be identified in the next stages of the project.