Trillium erectum (and Other Species of Trillium)

By Victoria Bechtold, PhD Student Sociology Department, Virginia Tech

Trillium erectum (and Other Species of Trillium)

Example Image
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) by Gilles Ayotte, (CC BY SA-4.0)

Plant: Trillium

Species: Trillium erectum (and other species of trillium)

Historical Applications:

According to historical records trillium plants have been implemented in a variety of ways, particularly as it pertains to managing reproductive health and wellness. Trillium pendulum, also known as Bethroot, was used in some cases to help facilitate childbirth.1 Historical accounts suggest that people used bethroot to manage hemorrhage (excessive bleeding), menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding), and leucorrhoea (excessive vaginal discharge).2

Example Image
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) photo by Ryan Hodnett (CC BY SA-4.0)

Chemical Components:

Saponins

Saponins are a class of organic compounds with a similar, but varied chemical structure.3 Trillium species contain a number of distinct saponins, many of which are being investigated for potential medical applications.

Research on trillium saponins in cancer treatment.

(For background cancer development, lethality, and modern treatments, please visit the Research on etoposide in cancer treatment section on the mayapple page).

One steroidal saponin, TTB2, isolated from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim has shown efficacy in a clinical setting in limiting the growth and replication of Ewing sarcoma cells.4 TTB2 stops cell development during the growth phase and the DNA replication phase of the cell cycle. Without the additional cell mass from growth and the second set of DNA, the cell can not divide, which prevents the creation of additional cancer cells, ultimately slowing or stopping tumor growth.

Example Image
“According to Season; Talks about the Flowers in the Order of Their Appearance in the Woods and Fields (1902) from Frances Theodora Parsons (1861-1952) (CC0)

Steroidal saponins K and L, derived from Trillium govanianum have also demonstrated clinical efficacy in preventing the growth and spread of cancer.5 Compound K was effective in killing both lung and colon cancer cell cultures.

Compound L stopped these lung and colon cancer cell cultures from metastasizing.6 Metastasis is a process by which cancerous cells become disconnected from the primary tumor, travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and reassert themselves elsewhere in the body, establishing a new tumor (Fares et al. 2020). Compound L works by deforming the nucleus of the cancer cells, limiting their capacity to replicate themselves.7 It also works as an angiogenesis inhibitor, limiting the access of tumors to blood vessels, starving cancer cells of oxygen, and thus ATP, ultimately resulting in the death of the cancer cell. Compound L also increases levels of the necessary proteins in cancer cells that are responsible for activating apoptosis. 8

Apoptosis refers to the regulated and controlled death of a cell. In most cases, apoptosis occurs whenever a cell or its DNA becomes damaged; however, cancer, the uncontrolled replication of mutated cells, occurs because the cellular mechanisms for triggering apoptosis have been disabled. By upregulating the pro-apoptotic proteins in cancerous cells, compound L is able to help activate these self-destruct functions in cancer cells, leading to the death of cancer cells.

Example Image
Trillium erectum photo by The Cosmonaut (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Cautions:

Trillium erectum may be somewhat poisonous to humans, with sources suggesting that the roots, fruits, and seeds may cause nausea and vomiting.9

Do not attempt to consume this plant.
References
  1. Lans, Cheryl, Lisa Taylor-Swanson, and Rachel Westfall. 2018. “Herbal Fertility Treatments Used in North America from Colonial Times to 1900, and Their Potential for Improving the Success Rate of Assisted Reproductive Technology.” Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online 5:60. doi: 10.1016/j.rbms.2018.03.001..Back to top.
  2. Lans, Cheryl, Lisa Taylor-Swanson, and Rachel Westfall. 2018. “Herbal Fertility Treatments Used in North America from Colonial Times to 1900, and Their Potential for Improving the Success Rate of Assisted Reproductive Technology.” Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online 5:60. doi: 10.1016/j.rbms.2018.03.001..Back to top.
  3. J. Augustin, Jörg M., Vera Kuzina, Sven B. Andersen, and Søren Bak. 2011. “Molecular Activities, Biosynthesis and Evolution of Triterpenoid Saponins.” Phytochemistry 72(6):435–57. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.01.015.Back to top.
  4. Huang, Wenfeng, and Kun Zou. 2015. “Cytotoxicity of the Saponin TTB2 on Ewing Sarcoma Cells.” Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10(2):625. doi: 10.3892/etm.2015.2544.Back to top.
  5. Lone, Bashir Ahmad, Misbah Tabassum, Anil Bhushan, Dixhya Rani, Urvashi Dhiman, Ajaz Ahmad, Hilal Ahmad Mir, Prem N. Gupta, D. M. Mondhe, Sumeet Gairola, and Prasoon Gupta. 2023. “Trilliumosides K and L, Two Novel Steroidal Saponins from Rhizomes of Trillium Govanianum, as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents Targeting Apoptosis in the A-549 Cancer Cell Line.” Frontiers in Chemistry 11:1306271. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1306271.Back to top.
  6. Lone, Bashir Ahmad, Misbah Tabassum, Anil Bhushan, Dixhya Rani, Urvashi Dhiman, Ajaz Ahmad, Hilal Ahmad Mir, Prem N. Gupta, D. M. Mondhe, Sumeet Gairola, and Prasoon Gupta. 2023. “Trilliumosides K and L, Two Novel Steroidal Saponins from Rhizomes of Trillium Govanianum, as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents Targeting Apoptosis in the A-549 Cancer Cell Line.” Frontiers in Chemistry 11:1306271. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1306271.Back to top.
  7. Lone, Bashir Ahmad, Misbah Tabassum, Anil Bhushan, Dixhya Rani, Urvashi Dhiman, Ajaz Ahmad, Hilal Ahmad Mir, Prem N. Gupta, D. M. Mondhe, Sumeet Gairola, and Prasoon Gupta. 2023. “Trilliumosides K and L, Two Novel Steroidal Saponins from Rhizomes of Trillium Govanianum, as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents Targeting Apoptosis in the A-549 Cancer Cell Line.” Frontiers in Chemistry 11:1306271. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1306271.Back to top.
  8. Lone, Bashir Ahmad, Misbah Tabassum, Anil Bhushan, Dixhya Rani, Urvashi Dhiman, Ajaz Ahmad, Hilal Ahmad Mir, Prem N. Gupta, D. M. Mondhe, Sumeet Gairola, and Prasoon Gupta. 2023. “Trilliumosides K and L, Two Novel Steroidal Saponins from Rhizomes of Trillium Govanianum, as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents Targeting Apoptosis in the A-549 Cancer Cell Line.” Frontiers in Chemistry 11:1306271. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1306271.Back to top.
  9. Anon. n.d. “Trillium erectum (Purple Trillium, Purple Wakerobin, Red Trillium, Red Wakerobin, Stinking Benjamin, Stinking Willie, Wake-Robin, Wake Robin Trillium, Wet Dog Wakerobin).” North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved December 12, 2024 (https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/trillium-erectum/); L. n.d. “Trillium erectum Beth Root - Indian Balm, Red Trillium, Wakerobin, Purple Trillium PFAF Plant Database.” Plants for a Future. Retrieved December 12, 2024 (https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Trillium+erectum); Burns, Emily. 2013. “Trillium Is Toxic!” Save the Redwoods League. Retrieved December 12, 2024 (https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/wonders/trillium-is-toxic/)Back to top.