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Medical Definition of Camptothecin
1. This alkaloid was originallyisolated from a Chinese tree, Camptotheca acuminata but has alsobeen found in the nothapodytes tree (Nothapodytes foetida). It isthe first known naturally-produced DNA topoisomerase Iinhibitor, and as such is being heavilly researched as atreatment for a wide variety of cancers. (09 Oct 1997)