Camptotheca

Happy tree
	Cancer Tree, Camptotheca acuminata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Cornaceae (Nyssaceae)
Genus:	Camptotheca; Decne.
Species
	Camptotheca acuminata; Camptotheca lowreyana

The Happy Tree, Cancer Tree, or Tree of Life (Camptotheca) is a genus of medium-sized deciduous trees growing to 20 m tall, native to southern China and Tibet. They are usually included in the tupelo family Nyssaceae, but sometimes included (with the tupelos) in the dogwood family Cornaceae. Camptotheca is used to make Irinotecan, Topotecan, 9-Aminocamptothecin, and camptothecin-1 (CPT-1). It also contains trifolin and hyperoside.^[1]

There are two species:

Camptotheca acuminata Decne.
Camptotheca lowreyana S.Y.Li

The name 'happy tree' is a direct translation of the Chinese name xi shu (Simplified Chinese:喜树). An extract from the tree (camptothecin) is used as an anti-cancer treatment.

References

^ Li, S.; Zhang, Z.; Cain, A.; Wang, B.; Long, M.; Taylor, J. (2005). "Antifungal Activity of Camptothecin, Trifolin, and Hyperoside Isolated from Camptotheca acuminata". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 53 (1): 32–37. doi:10.1021/jf0484780. PMID 15631505.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Flora of China - draft text

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[1] Li, S.; Zhang, Z.; Cain, A.; Wang, B.; Long, M.; Taylor, J. (2005). "Antifungal Activity of Camptothecin, Trifolin, and Hyperoside Isolated from Camptotheca acuminata". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 53 (1): 32–37. doi:10.1021/jf0484780. PMID 15631505.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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