Production of Camptothecin from Nothapodytes nimmoniana: An Overview

Abstract

-Nothapodytes nimmoniana is an endangered tree endemic to Western Ghats, India and it is the convenient source for large scale isolation of camptothecin (CPT). Since the first report of CPT detection in N. nimmoniana, significant work has been done on its applications. Due to heavy collection of its wood chips for CPT, population is under threat in India. Several plant tissue culture techniques offer alternative strategies for clonal propagation and CPT production to conserve the species. Various strategies are employed to enhance in vitro condition response through culture medium optimization, elicitation, and artificial seed method. In this article, we have reviewed progress made so far on different methods of plant tissue culture techniques for production of camptothecin from N. nimmoniana and biosynthesis of CPT in details.