Cancer tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cancer tree
• Chinese happy tree
• Happy tree
• Tree of life

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cephalanthus esquirolii
• Camptotheca acuminata var. tenuifolia
• Camptotheca yunnanensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cornales, it is classified under the family Nyssaceae. Its scientific designation is finalized within the genus Camptotheca, specifically as the species Camptotheca acuminata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several distinct regions. Within China, it is commonly found in the South-Central and Southeast areas. Its presence extends into the Indo-China region, specifically within the country of Vietnam. Additionally, the species has been documented in the Southeastern United States, particularly in Arkansas. These varied locations demonstrate the plant's ability to inhabit diverse environments across different continents.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Camptotheca acuminata is characterized by its specific distribution across montane landscapes, where it occupies a distinct vertical niche within its habitat. This species is primarily found at mid-to-high altitudes, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 1000 m AMSL. Its ecological range extends from a minimum altitude of 1000 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL, suggesting an adaptation to the specific temperature gradients, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressures found within these altitudinal belts. This elevational stratification plays a critical role in determining its distribution patterns and the environmental conditions required for its growth and survival.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Camptotheca acuminata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a dual life form classification, functioning as a phanerophyte with elevated stems and also manifesting as a nanophanerophyte, where its woody parts remain relatively close to the ground. Furthermore, the species follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Camptotheca acuminata is characterized by a robust growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree. It reaches a significant plant height with a mean measurement of approximately 20 m. As a woody species, it possesses a solid structural framework, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is terrestrial in its ecological habit, neither being aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it maintains a self-supporting stature, categorized as both a self-supporting climber and a self-supporting non-obligatory structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Camptotheca acuminata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native environment. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 12 cm to a mean of 20 cm, reaching a maximum of 28 cm. The leaf width follows a similar range of variability, starting from a minimum of 6 cm and extending to a maximum of 12 cm. Furthermore, the structural integrity and biomass distribution of the plant are reflected in its stem specific density (SSD), which maintains a mean value of 516 mg/cm³.

Leaf length max:

28 cm

Leaf length mean:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

12 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

6 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

516 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Camptotheca acuminata is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. These fruits exhibit measurable morphological variations, with a mean fruit length of 2.25 cm. Within the natural population, the dimensions of these fruits fluctuate, ranging from a minimum length of 2 cm to a maximum length of 2.5 cm. This variation in fruit size plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive success and the subsequent distribution of its progeny within its ecological niche.

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.25 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Camptotheca acuminata has 6 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, seed, root, flower.

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Shi yan sheng wu xue bao
3. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology
4. Journal of natural products

Fruit

1. Natural product research
2. Se pu = Chinese journal of chromatography
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Seed

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

Root

1. Shi yan sheng wu xue bao
2. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Flower

1. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Stem

1. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Chemicals

Camptotheca acuminata has 30 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include camptothecin, 10-Hydroxycamptothecin, CPT, Camptothecine, Trifolin.

camptothecin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current medicinal chemistry
3. BMC genomics
4. Planta medica
5. Journal of plant physiology

10-Hydroxycamptothecin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
4. Journal of natural products
5. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

CPT

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines
2. Physiologia plantarum

Camptothecine

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Trifolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

10-Methoxycamptothecin

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

10-hydroxycamptothecine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

11-Hydroxycamptothecin

1. Dr. Duke

6-BA

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Camptotheca acuminata has 189 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antiviral, Cytotoxic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Physiologia plantarum
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
5. Plant physiology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Camptotheca acuminata has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, anticancer agents, antineoplastic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations