Definition

A type of resin that comes from the root of the May apple plant, used in medicine for its strong effects, including as a laxative and for treating certain skin conditions.

Example

The doctor prescribed podophyllin to treat the patient's warts.

Conversation

Hey, have you ever heard of podophyllin?

Yeah, I think it's some kind of medicine, right?

Exactly! It's actually derived from the May apple plant.

That's interesting! I wonder how it works as a caustic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Podophyllin is derived from "podon" (from Greek, meaning foot) and "phyllon" (from Greek, meaning leaf). The term refers to a substance derived from the leaves of the Mayapple plant, which is known for its medicinal properties, particularly in treating warts and other skin conditions.

Memory Tip

Think of 'foot' ('podon') and 'leaf' ('phyllon') to remember that podophyllin comes from the leaves of a plant associated with foot-related treatments.

Visually Confused Words