Ophiorrhiza
Encyclopedia
Ophiorrhiza is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae|coffee family. Species of the genus contain camptothecin
, an alkaloid
used to make chemotherapeutic agents
.
So many of Ophiorrhiza species are endemic to certain areas of western Ghats.
Species include:
Camptothecin
Camptothecin is a cytotoxic quinoline alkaloid which inhibits the DNA enzyme topoisomerase I . It was discovered in 1966 by M. E. Wall and M. C. Wani in systematic screening of natural products for anticancer drugs. It was isolated from the bark and stem of Camptotheca acuminata , a tree native to...
, an alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
used to make chemotherapeutic agents
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
.
So many of Ophiorrhiza species are endemic to certain areas of western Ghats.
Species include:
- Ophiorrhiza acuminata
- Ophiorrhiza blumeana
- Ophiorrhiza bracteata
- Ophiorrhiza cantoniensis
- Ophiorrhiza carinata
- Ophiorrhiza caudata
- Ophiorrhiza dulongensis
- Ophiorrhiza filistipula
- Ophiorrhiza japonica
- Ophiorrhiza kuroiwai
- Ophiorrhiza liukiuensis
- Ophiorrhiza lurida
- Ophiorrhiza major
- Ophiorrhiza michelloides
- Ophiorrhiza mungos
- Ophiorrhiza nutans
- Ophiorrhiza prostrata
- Ophiorrhiza pumila
- Ophiorrhiza rosea
- Ophiorrhiza rugosa
- Ophiorrhiza succirubra
External links
- Vascular Plants of Gaoligong Shan, Yunnan, China: Ophiorrhiza
- Darwin, S. P. (1976). The Pacific species of Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae). Lyonia 1:2.