What tree species is the fruit of Camptotheca acuminata? Where is it suitable to plant? What pharmacological effects does it have? Can it fight tumors?

The fruit of Camptotheca acuminata, also called qianzhang tree, water chestnut, and tianzi tree. Its flowering period is August, and its fruiting period is October—November. So, what tree species is the fruit of Camptotheca acuminata? Where is it suitable to plant? What pharmacological effects does it have? Can it fight tumors?

1. What tree species is the fruit of Camptotheca acuminata? Where is it suitable to plant?

The fruit of Camptotheca acuminata prefers warmth and humidity, and is not tolerant of severe cold or dryness. It mostly grows on gully slopes at the foot of mountains. It is a deep-rooted tree species that likes fertile soil and water, and is not tolerant of dry and barren conditions. It can grow in acidic, neutral, and weakly alkaline soil. It grows well in limestone-weathered soil and alluvial soil. However, it grows poorly in coarse sandy soil with relatively poor soil fertility, gravelly soil, and dry, barren, thin rocky mountain land. It grows vigorously in moist riverbank sandy land, river and lake embankments, and along canal banks with relatively high groundwater levels.

2. What pharmacological effects does it have? Can it fight tumors?

1. Anti-tumor effect: The alcohol extract of the fruit of Camptotheca acuminata has a certain inhibitory effect on transplanted tumors in animals. The camptothecin and its derivatives it contains have strong anti-cancer activity, have a clear inhibitory effect on leukemia L1210 in vitro, and have inhibitory effects on HeLa cells and various tumor cells.

2. Immunosuppressive effect: When camptothecin was injected intraperitoneally into mice at a small dose for 9 consecutive times, it had a clear inhibitory effect on tumor-associated immunity. A single high dose of 40 mg/kg had a smaller immunosuppressive effect. The immunosuppression caused by camptothecin is temporary, and immune function recovered 9 days after discontinuation.

3. Other effects: Camptothecin and 10-methoxycamptothecin both have clear inhibitory effects on herpes virus in vitro. Camptothecin at 5 mg/kg, once daily, by gavage or subcutaneous injection for 1 to 3 consecutive times, can achieve 100% anti-early-pregnancy effects in rats 7 to 9 days after mating and in rabbits 7 days after mating.