Camptotheca acuminata explained

Camptotheca acuminata is a species of tree in the genus Camptotheca that is native to north Vietnam and southern China.^[1] It is also cultivated in the southern United States.^[2]

A eudicot,^[3] it is a flowering deciduous tree with light gray bark.^[4] It can grow to a height of 20m (70feet). Its large, papery leaves are somewhat oval in shape, usually 12to long and 6to wide. The flowers, which bloom from May through July, produce a gray-brown fruit with one seed in September.

Uses

Camptotheca acuminata is a source of camptothecin chemicals, which have been tested for potential use as treatments for cancer and HIV. The modern chemotherapy drugs topotecan and irinotecan are derived from it, though now the molecules are produced in a lab environment rather than extracted from the leaves and bark of the tree.^[5] Because of this, it is sometimes called the "cancer tree".

In traditional Chinese medicine, the tree is called

xi shu ("tree of joy" or "happy tree") and was considered a relatively unimportant medicinal plant.

The tree is also grown for shade and ornamental value.

References

1. Web site: Camptotheca acuminata Decne. Plants of the World Online Kew Science . 2024-09-13 . Plants of the World Online . en.
2. Book: Lewis . Walter H. . Medical Botany: Plants Affecting Human Health . Elvin-Lewis . Memory P. F. . 2003-09-04 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-0-471-62882-8 . 205–206 . en.
3. Web site: Camptotheca acuminata . 2024-09-13 . NCBI . en.
4. Camptotheca acuminata. 0000794374.
5. Book: Foster . Steven . National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine . Johnson . Rebecca L. . 2008 . National Geographic Books . 978-1-4262-0293-3 . 202–203 . en.

Further reading

• Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
• Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
• Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 13: 1-548. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
• Wu Chi-Jun (1848). Zhi Wu Ming Shi Du Gao [Illustrated Investigations of the Names and Natures of Plants], Beijing.