title: Plant anticancer agents X. Isolation of camptothecin and 9-methoxycamptothecin from Ervatamia heyneana.
abstract: The anticancer activity of the roots of Ervatamia heyneana (Apocynaceae) was found to be due principally to the known alkaloid, camptothecin (1). The closely related, but less active, 9-methoxycamptothecin (2) was also obtained. This is the first reported isolation of these biogenetically interesting alkaloids from the indole alkaloid rich Apocynaceae.
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010944:Plants / Q000032:analysis*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002166:Camptothecin