camptothecin
noun
camp·to·the·cin
ˌkamp-tə-ˈthē-sən 
: an alkaloid C20H16N2O4 from the wood of a Chinese tree (Camptotheca acuminata of the family Nyssaceae) that has shown some antileukemic and anticancer activity in animal studies
also
: a semisynthetic or synthetic derivative of this
Cite this Entry
“Camptothecin.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/camptothecin. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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