Quercetin and kaempherol: an argument against the use of podophyllin?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Topical application of podophyllin is a routine procedure in patients with ano-genital warts. Podophyllin is a crude plant extract and is therefore not a well-defined product. It may contain variable amounts of the active lignan podophyllotoxin and the majority of the dry weight of podophyllin is made up of substances never identified.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of the study was to estimate in podophyllin 20% the amounts of two mutagenic substances, quercetin and kaempherol.

METHODS:

Using high-pressure liquid chromatography the amounts of quercetin and kaempherol were determined in 3 batches of podophyllin 20%.

RESULTS:

Quercetin and kaempherol constitutes 2.5-3.8% and 6.0-6.4% of podophyllin dry substance, respectively. Podophyllotoxin constitutes in comparison 12.7-13.8% of podophyllin dry substance.

CONCLUSION:

As approximately 10% of the amount of dry substance in podophyllin 20% is composed of two mutagenic flavonoids, quercetin and kaempherol, efforts should be focused on the production of a well-defined purified podophyllotoxin preparation that may replace podophyllin for clinic use in patients with genital warts. Self-medication with purified podophyllotoxin 0.5% may be considered as first-line treatment in well-instructed patients with external genital warts.

• Authors: C S Petersen, K Weismann
• Journal: Genitourinary medicine (Genitourin Med) Vol. 71 Issue 2 Pg. 92-3 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0266-4348 [Print] England
• PMID: 7744421 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Flavonoids
• Mutagens
• Podophyllin
• Quercetin

Topics

• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Condylomata Acuminata (drug therapy)
• Contraindications
• Flavonoids (analysis)
• Mutagens (analysis)
• Podophyllin (chemistry)
• Quercetin (analysis)