20111003-8415 Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J.Graham) Mabb.

Icacinaceae » Nothapodytes » Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J.Graham) Mabb.

Marathi: घाणेरा ghanera

Recently, several tree species of the Western Ghats are gaining international importance due to their newly identified pharmacological and curative properties. One such tree is Nothapodytes nimmoniana. The wood-extract of this tree is used in the treatment of cancer. The active principle of the wood-camptothecin (CPT), is known as a potent drug that breaks single-strand DNA in the mammalian systems and is found to be useful in the treatment of tumours. CPT is also known to inhibit retroviruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and equine infectious anaemia virus. It is believed that CPT is the third most important alkaloid sought after by the pharmaceutical companies around the world. Perhaps this has led to the largescale exploitation of the species from its wild habitat in the recent years, despite the ban on green felling. An estimated 20% of the population of this species is believed to have declined over the last decade.

Source: CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 83, NO. 9, 10 NOVEMBER 2002