podophyllotoxins

podophyllotoxins

A range of powerful substances derived from the mandrake root (Podophyllum peltatum ). Podophyllotoxins act as TOPOISOMERASE inhibitors causing breaks in DNA strands. Ironically in view of John Donne's famous reference to mandrake, podophillotoxins are also used locally to treat genital WARTS in both sexes. Brand names of preparations for the latter purpose are Condyline and Warticon.