Camptotheca acuminata 喜樹

Cornaceae 山茱萸科

Happy Tree1

旱蓮木、千丈樹、野芭蕉、天梓樹2,3

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant.4

TOXICITY

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment. Activated charcoal therapy has been used for gastrointestinal decontamination in C. acuminata poisoning.1

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Trees, up to 20 m tall; bark grey, deeply fissured and furrowed; young branchlets purplish green. Leaves alternate; leaf blades papery, 8–28 × 6–12 cm, lateral veins 10–15 on each side of midvein. Heads 1.5–2 cm in diameter, often 2–9 heads rearranged in panicles; peduncles 3–6 cm long. Samaras 2.5–3.5 cm long, yellow-brown, narrowly winged.8

MEDICINAL USES

Uses in TCM—fruits, roots and root bark: anti-cancer, clear heat and remove toxin, kill parasites, dissipate binds and eliminate mass; bark: activate blood and remove toxin, dispel wind and relieve itching; leaves (for external use only): clear heat and remove toxin, kill parasites, dispel wind and relieve itching. Recommended dose: fruits 3–9 g, root bark 9–15 g, bark 15–30 g. In addition, camptothecin and its derivatives have antineoplastic activity.2,4–6

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Camptothecin can be detected by HPLC-DAD, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.9,10