The roots and rhizomes contain cytotoxic lignans and their glucosides with the Indian Podophyllum containing about 5% and American Podophyllum 1%. The active principles may be obtained in a concentrated form by pouring an ethanolic extract of the root into water. The precipitated podophyllum resin or ‘podophyllin’ is then dried. While Indian Podophyllum yields about 6% to 12% of resin containing 50% to 60% lignans, American Podophyllum gives 2% to 8% resin containing 14% to 18% lignans.

Both Indian and American Podophyllum have similar lignan constituents, however in different proportions. The Indian drug contains chiefly podophyllotoxin (about 4%) and 4′-demethyl podophyllotoxin (about 0.45%) and the main components in the American root are podophyllotoxin (about 0.25%), β-peltatin (about 0.33%) and α-peltatin (about 0.25%). Deoxypodophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxone, glucosides of podophyllotoxin, 4′-demethyl podophyllotoxin are present in both plants with the Indian root having only traces of peltatins. Fresh rhizomes have more active principles, which are lost on prolonged storage. Also resin preparation results in considerable losses of the water-soluble glucosides.