Camptothecin: chemistry, biosynthesis, analogs, and chemical synthesis

Abstract Camptothecin (CPT), a proven anticancer drug, is distributed across several families and genera and is still extracted from Nothapoytes foetida and Camptotheca acuminata, due to their initial discovery in these two plants. The study of biogenesis and chemistry of CPT is imperative, as this paves a way for semisynthesis or total synthesis of CPT. The water-insoluble nature and occurrence in extremely low quantities triggered the research to semisynthesized water-soluble derivatives for its use in pharma industry. With this background, in this chapter, a comprehensive review is presented about chemistry, biosynthesis, total synthesis of CPT, and its analogs.