PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PODOPHYLLUM HEXANDRUM ROYLE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle is an endemic and endangered valuable medicinal plantspeciescharacterisedasherbaceousandrhizomatousperennial.Thegeographicalpresence of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle spans over the Himalayas at an altitude rangingfrom 2000 to 4000 m above Mean Sea Level. With a long history of usage in traditionalmedicine, it has been exercised as an intestinal purgative, an inhibitor of tumour growth andasalvefornecroticandinfectedwounds.Manysecondarymetabolites,suchasPodophyllotoxin,havebeenreportedtobe extracted from the plant, which possessesanti-tumourpropertiestotreattesticularandlung cancer.TheextensiveexploitationofPodophyllumhexandrum Royle in regions of the Himalayashasledtoadeclineinthefrequencyofthespeciesinthepastfewyears.Thiscomprehensive review article aims to facilitate an updated overview of the pharmacologicalproperties of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle including its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory,anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, and radio-protective effects. This article reviews themedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological, ethnobotanical and cultivation-related aspects oftheplant.