Camptothecin
Botanical Name: camptotheca acuminata Decne
Appearance:Light yellow cystalline powder
CAS Registry NO.: 7689-03-4
Molecular formula: C20H16N2O4
Molecular Weight: 348.34
Specification:99% by HPLC
Brief Introduction:
Camptothecin is an alkaloid derived from the chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata Decne. Camptothecin and its derivatives are unique in their ability to inhibit DNA Topoisomerase I, by stabilizing a covalent reaction intermediate termed the cleavable complex which ultimately causes tumor cell death. In clinical it is widely believed that camptothecin analogs exhibited remarkable anti-tumour and anti-leukaemia activity. Topoisomerase is a basilic enzyme in the process of DNA replication, it is responsible for the winding / unwinding of the supercoiled DNA composing the chromosomes. If the chromosomes cannot be unwound, transcription of DNA message cannot occur and the protein cannot be synthesized, it ultimately causes cell death.