| Description | Podophyllotoxin (2,3-butyl-4-aromatic naphthene) is isolated from guijiu(Podophyllum) . There are two species as the main source of podophyllotoxin, Podophyllum hexandrum Royle and Podophyllum peltatum .
Although podophyllotoxin has significant antitumor and antiviral activities, it showed several toxicity and side effects. Podophyllotoxin derivatives, etoposide (VP-16-213), Etopophos, amino sugar etoposide (NK6l1), and teniposide (VM26), have been developed as anticancer drugs. They are used to treat small cell lung cancer, testicular cancer, acute leukemia, malignant lymphoma, etc. But podophyllotoxin derivatives are not free of toxicity. Besides the narrowing of the anticancer spectrum and low water solubility, these drugs could induce severe myelosuppression, gastrointestinal side effects, etc.
Although the synthetic and biosynthetic pathways of podophyllotoxin have been elucidated, it is still the most effective, economic, and fast way to extract podophyllotoxin from the plant. |
| Chemical Properties | off-white fine crystalline powder |
| Physical properties | Appearance: white needle crystal powder. Solubility: freely soluble in chloroform, acetone, ethyl acetate, and benzene; soluble in ethanol and ethyl ether; and insoluble in water. Melting point: after drying the melting point is 183–184°C. Specific optical rotation: 132.7°C (chloroform). |
| History | Podophyllotoxin was first found in the Podophyllum peltatum L.?The first time to isolate podophyllotoxin from podophyllin was in 1880. In 1942, it was found that venereal warts could be effectively treated by application of podophyllin.Subsequently, podophyllotoxin was reported to inhibit the growth of the tumor through the inhibition of the microtubule formation. The chemical structure of podophyllotoxin was elucidated in 1951.
In the 1960s, two main podophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized, etoposide and teniposide (VM-26) . In 1983, etoposide was approved by FDA.?Etoposide and teniposide are used in frontline cancer therapy against various cancer types, such as small cell lung cancer, testicular cancer, etc. In 1996, etoposide phosphate analog (Etopophos) was launched in America. Etopophos is the prodrug of etoposide and can be rapidly absorbed and completely converted to the parent compound in?vivo. In 1990, WHO recommended 0.5% podophyllotoxin as the first-line drug for the treatment of condyloma acuminatum. Podophyllotoxin creams and gels are nowadays widely used in clinical practice. |
| Uses | Skin treatment for genital warts caused by some types of HPVs. |
| Uses | antineoplastic, inhibits microtubule assembly, and human DNA topoisomerase II; antimitotic agent |
| Uses | Podophyllotoxin is a non-alkaloid toxin lignan extracted from the roots and rhizomes of Podophyllum species. It binds to topoisomerase II during the late S and early G2 stage, blocking tubulin polymerization and, thus, inhibiting mitosis. In addition to being used as a cathartic, purgative, antiviral agent, vesicant, and antihelminthic, podophyllotoxin is the starting material for the semi-synthesis of the anti-cancer drugs etoposide , teniposide , and etopophos. |
| Definition | ChEBI: An organic heterotetracyclic compound that has a furonaphthodioxole skeleton bearing a 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl substituent. It is found in the roots and rhizomes of Podophyllum species and is used for the topical treatment of genital warts. |
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