Nathapodytes nimmoniana

Researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology Madras and Mandi have metabolically engineered plant cells to increase production of anti-cancer drug camptothecin (CPT).

Nathapodytes nimmoniana

Nathapodytes nimmoniana is an endangered medicinal plant widely distributed throughout the Western Ghats of India.
The plant contains camptothecin (CPT) which is renowned anticancer drugs.
Though, CPT found in many plant species but maximum amount of CPT has been reported from N. nimmoniana.
Due to very good source of CPT, this plant has been explored for its Phytochemical, Biotechnological and Pharmacological aspects.
The plant has been overharvested, pushing it to the endangered list.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has red-listed the plant as in the past decade alone there has been a 20% decline in the plant’s population.

The Chinese variety of the plant used to extract the cell is listed as critically endangered.

Camptothecin (CPT)

Camptothecin (CPT) was discovered from plant extracts more than 60 years ago.
Since then, only two CPT analogs (irinotecan and topotecan) have been approved for cancer treatment.
Camptothecin (CPT) class of compounds has been demonstrated to be effective against a broad spectrum of tumors.
The allopathic medicine is produced using Nathapodytes nimmoniana.
Camptothecin is majorly produced in southeast Asian region, with the plant being largely found only in China and India.

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