Camptothecine (Camptothecin) – CAS 7689-03-4 | Natural Topoisomerase I Inhibitor & Irinotecan Intermediate
Product Identification
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Camptothecine; Camptothecin; (S)-(+)-Camptothecin; CPT |
| CAS RN | 7689-03-4 |
| EC / MDL | Available upon request |
| Molecular Formula | C₂₀H₁₆N₂O₄ |
| MW | 348.36 |
| HS Code (reference) | 2939.99 (natural alkaloids) |
Description
Camptothecine is a natural quinoline alkaloid first isolated from Camptotheca acuminatain 1966. It is a specific DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I) inhibitor with IC₅₀ ≈ 0.68 µM in cell-free assays, and shows cytotoxicity against multiple human tumor cell lines (HT-29, LOX, SKOV3, SKVLB) at 37–48 nM level.
Camptothecine is the parent nucleus of several clinically used anticancer agents, including irinotecan, topotecan and belotecan, and remains a key starting material / intermediate for semisynthetic CPT-derived APIs, as well as a standard research tool in tumor pharmacology and DNA damage–repair studies.
Applications
API Intermediate / Starting Material – semisynthetic irinotecan, topotecan, belotecan
Research Reagent – Topo I inhibitor standard for oncology & cell biology
Lead Compound – scaffold for novel CPT derivatives (ADC, nanoparticle, prodrug R&D)
FAQ
Q: What is Camptothecine CAS 7689-03-4 used for?
A: It is primarily used as a semisynthetic intermediate for irinotecan / topotecan APIs, and as a Topo I inhibitor research reagent in oncology labs.
Q: Camptothecine vs Camptothecin – same compound?
A: Yes. “Camptothecine” (with terminal -e) and “Camptothecin” refer to the same molecule, CAS 7689-04-4. The latter is the more common index spelling; both are used in supplier catalogs.
Q: Is Camptothecine water-soluble?
A: No. It is practically insoluble in water; soluble in DMSO (~3 mg/mL), CHCl₃, MeOH, EtOH. For in vitro work, DMSO stock is standard.
Q: Can Camptothecine be used directly as a drug?
A: Not routinely. Poor solubility and toxicity limit its clinical use; the approved drugs are derivatives (irinotecan, topotecan). Camptothecine itself is supplied for R&D and API intermediate channels.