Camptothecin (CPT) is a potent cytotoxic alkaloid originally isolated from the bark and stem of Camptotheca acuminata (happy tree). It is extracted using organic solvent methods and purified by crystallization and chromatography.
CPT acts as a specific inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I, an enzyme essential for DNA replication and transcription. This mechanism makes it a critical precursor for semi-synthetic anticancer drugs including irinotecan and topotecan. Commercially, high-purity camptothecin serves as a pharmaceutical raw material, research reagent, and starting material for oncology drug synthesis.
