1Research Scholar, Geeta Institute of Pharmacy, Geeta University, Panipat, India
2SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
3Assistant Professor, Mangalyaan Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, India
4Associate Professor, Sanskar College of Pharmacy & Research, Opp. Jindal Pipes Ltd, NH-24, Jindal Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201015, India
ORCID: 0000-0002-2961-0975
5Assistant Professor, Kalinga University, Chhattisgarh, Raipur, India
6Assistant Professor, Paramedical Institute of Vocational Education, Mangalayatan University, Aligarh-Mathura Highway, Beswan, Aligarh-202146, Uttar Pradesh, India
7*Associate Professor, BMS College of Pharmacy, Amethi, UP-229309, India
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0948-190X
Email: jpsingh9452@gmail.com
Contact: 9452025395 (Corresponding Author)
8Professor, B.M.S. College of Pharmacy, Tiloi, Amethi-229309, UP, India
The global burden of cancer continues to drive the search for novel, plant-derived antitumor agents. Camptotheca acuminata, widely referred to as the "Cancer Tree," is a rich source of camptothecin (CPT), a potent DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor with strong anticancer potential. In the present study, phytoconstituents were extracted from the leaves of C. acuminata using ethanol and chloroform, followed by separation through column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Two pure isolates were obtained and subjected to comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectrometry, for structural elucidation. The results confirmed the identity of isolate A as camptothecin and isolate B as topotecan, both of which are pharmacologically significant anticancer alkaloids. These findings highlight the relevance of C. acuminata as a valuable source of bioactive compounds and demonstrate the utility of combined chromatographic and spectroscopic methodologies in the isolation and characterization of plant-derived therapeutics. The study further supports the ethnomedicinal applications of C. acuminata and underscores its potential in anticancer drug development.
Keywords: Camptotheca acuminata; Cancer Tree; Camptothecin; Topotecan; DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor; Column chromatography; Spectroscopic analysis; Anticancer alkaloids; Phytoconstituents; Natural products.
How to cite this article: Kumari P, Kaur A, Rajkumar, Nutan, Chandra D, Singh AD, Singh JP, Tripathy S. The Isolation, Purification, and Structural Characterization of Antitumor Alkaloids from Cancer Tree (Camptotheca acuminata). Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 710-719; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.97
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None