HPTLC-based quantification of camptothecin in Ophiorrhiza species of the southern Western Ghats in India

Abstract

Abstract Camptothecin (CPT), a modified monoterpene indole alkaloid, is a potential anticancer drug, and due to high demand, search for its new plant-based sources is a priority. Genus Ophiorrhiza is a candidate group in the search for new resources of CPT. Here, CPT contents in 38 Ophiorrhiza accessions, belonging to 11 species and 3 varieties, collected from the southern Western Ghats region in India were quantified by HPTLC-densitometry. Ophiorrhiza mungos (396.54 μg/g, dr. wt.) and O. mungos var. angustifolia (373.19 μg/g, dr. wt.) were the two best CPT sources among the screened species/varieties. O. rugosa var. decumbens (18.55 μg/g, dr. wt.) and O. hirsutula (17.14 μg/g, dr. wt.) showed moderate contents of CPT. This is the first systematic CPT screening of O. hirsutula, O. barnesii, O. incarnata, O. radicans and O. villosa. This study shows the significance of choosing high CPT-yielding ecotypes/chemotypes of Ophiorrhiza species or varieties for commercial purposes.