Studies On Genetic Diversity Of An Endangered Species, Sinopodophyllum Hexandrum (Royle) Ying

Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying (syn, S. emodi (Wall) Ying. Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, P. emodi Wall), commonly called Himalayan Mayapple, is an endangered perennial herb belonging to the family Berberidaceae. S. hexandrum mainly grows the Himalaya and neighboring region, and is distributed in China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan. In China, S. hexandrum mainly grows wild in the southwestern plateau (Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region) at elevations of 2700 to 4500 m and in other provinces such as Shanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Ningxia Autonomous Region and Hubei Province. Based on our informations, S. hexandrum mainly grows the Western Sichuan Province (Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture, Aba Autonomous Prefecture and Muli county of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture). S. hexandrum was used in traditional medicine by the local people and then recognized for its anti-cancer properties. The rhizomes and roots of S. hexandrum contain an anti-tumor lignan (podophyllotoxin), being most important for its use in the semisynthesis of the anti-cancer drugs (etoposide. VP₁₆. and teniposide, VM₂₆). Recently, the number of...