Current Science

Hirenallur Kumarappa Suma ¹, Vadlapudi Kumar ², Patel Mohana Kumara ³, Amitava Srimany ³, Gudasalamani Ravikanth ¹, Senthil Kumar Umapathy ¹, Thalappil Pradeep ³, Ramesh Vasudeva ⁴, Ramanan Uma Shaanker ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Ecology and Conservation, and Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru 560 065, IN
2 Department of Biochemistry, Davangere University, Shivagangothri, Davangere 577 002, IN
3 DST Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, IN
4 Department of Forest Biology, College of Forestry, Sirsi 581 401, IN

Abstract

Camptothecin (CPT), a quinoline indole alkaloid, is one of the important inhibitors of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I. The highest concentration of this alkaloid has been reported from the fruits of Pyrenacantha volubilis Hook. Here we report the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of CPT in seeds and fruits of P. volubilis. Temporally, CPT content was highest in mature but unripe fruits compared to ripened fruits. Spatially, cotyledonary tissues of the seed had the highest amount of CPT followed by seed coat and fruit coat. This pattern is best explained by selection to deter fruit predators during fruit development, but attracting the fruit dispersers when fruits are mature and ripe.

Keywords

Camptothecin, Distribution Pattern, Fruit Developmental Stages, Pyrenacantha volubilis.

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