podophyllin

[ pod-uh-fil-in ]

noun

1. a resin, occurring as a light brown to greenish amorphous powder, obtained from podophyllum, and used in medicine chiefly as a cathartic and, locally, in the treatment of genital warts.

podophyllin

/ ˌpɒdəʊˈfɪlɪn /

noun

1. a bitter yellow resin obtained from the dried underground stems of the May apple and mandrake: used to treat warts and formerly as a cathartic

Other Words From

• podo·phyllic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of podophyllin¹

First recorded in 1850–55; podophyll(um) + -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of podophyllin¹

C19: from New Latin Podophyllum genus of herbs including the May apple, from podo-, from Greek pous foot + phullon leaf

Example Sentences

Care should be taken to obtain a good article, as some of the podophyllin of the shops is not reliable: Rx.

From Project Gutenberg

In the treatment of one of the cases reported above it will be recollected that the mild chloride of mercury mite was given with the podophyllin, with a good result.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not think I have more than two podophyllin pills left in the box, but to those you are welcome.

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile, National Cancer Institute researchers tried podophyllin on mouse cancers, got comparable results.

From Time Magazine Archive

Podophyllum resin, or podophyllin, is the resin of the dried root of the mandrake or May apple; Carter combined this with the dried juice of aloes.

From Time Magazine Archive