Camptotheca acuminata 喜樹

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant.⁴

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Camptothecin and its derivatives.^1,5

• Mechanism

  Camptothecin and its derivatives inhibit topoisomerase. They interfere with replication and transcription of DNA, leading to apoptosis of cells.⁶

• Poisoning Features

  Tiredness, leucopenia, hair loss, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhagic cystitis. Death in severe cases.^1,7  

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