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.