Botanical name
Podophyllum hexandrum
Family name
Berberidaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/198
Vernacular names
Hindi: Ban Kakdi, Bankakri
English: Himalayan Mayapple
Kashmiri: Papra
Punjabi: Papra
Habitat & Distribution
Found in alpine and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas at elevations of 2500–4000 meters, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand
Morphology –
Root: Creeping rhizome, thick, knotty, reddish-brown
Leaves: Large, peltate, deeply lobed, palmate
Flowers: Solitary, pink to purplish-red, cup-shaped
Fruits: Ovoid berries, bright red when ripe
Varieties
No significant varieties documented for Podophyllum hexandrum in classical texts
Substitute/ Adulterant
Substitute: No direct substitute due to unique phytochemical profile
Adulterants: Sometimes confused with Podophyllum peltatum (American species)
Phytochemicals
Podophyllotoxin
Lignans
Flavonoids
Resin compounds
Anthocyanins (in fruits)
Raspanchaka
Rasa: Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent)
Guna: Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)
Virya: Ushna (hot)
Vipaka: Katu
Prabhava: Vishaghna (anti-toxic)
Dosha Shamakta: Kapha-Vata hara
Karma
Krimighna (anti-helminthic)
Vranahara (wound healing)
Kushtaghna (anti-skin disease)
Vishaghna (anti-toxic/antidote)
Granthihara (resolves tumors)
Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses
External
Used in ointments for skin diseases and warts
Paste applied to wounds and ulcers (only under expert supervision due to toxicity)
Internal
Purgative (used in highly diluted forms)
Anthelmintic
Used in cancer research formulations
Part used
Rhizome
Dose
Raisin 125-250 mg
Yoga/Formulations
Vatsanabhi taila
Vishatinduka vati (with due purification)
Modern: Used in chemotherapy formulations like Etoposide and Teniposide (derived from podophyllotoxin)
IUCN Status Endangered
Research updates
Kumar, D., et al. Conservation and sustainable use of Podophyllum hexandrum: An endangered medicinal plant of the Himalayas. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 278, 114266.
Mehta, A., et al. In vitro antitumor activity of podophyllotoxin derived from P. hexandrum. Phytomedicine, 104, 154270.
Rana, T. S., et al. Genetic diversity assessment of Podophyllum hexandrum using SSR markers. Plant Genetic Resources, 21(1), 1–10.
