Ophiorrhiza Explained

Ophiorrhiza is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family (Rubiaceae). It contains 372 species native to the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, China, Taiwan, Japan, Malesia, Papuasia, Queensland, and the South Pacific. Species of the genus contain camptothecin, an alkaloid used to make chemotherapeutic agents.^{[1] [2]} Many Ophiorrhiza species are endemic to certain areas of the Western Ghats.

Species include:

• Ophiorrhiza acuminata^[3]
• Ophiorrhiza blumeana^[4]
• Ophiorrhiza bracteata^[4]
• Ophiorrhiza cantoniensis
• Ophiorrhiza carinata
• Ophiorrhiza caudata^[1]
• Ophiorrhiza dulongensis
• Ophiorrhiza filistipula
• Ophiorrhiza japonica
• Ophiorrhiza kuroiwai^[5]
• Ophiorrhiza liukiuensis^[3]
• Ophiorrhiza longiflora
• Ophiorrhiza lurida
• Ophiorrhiza major^[4]
• Ophiorrhiza michelloides^{[6] [7]}
• Ophiorrhiza mungos
• Ophiorrhiza nutans
• Ophiorrhiza prostrata^[8]
• Ophiorrhiza pumila^{[3] [9]}
• Ophiorrhiza rosea
• Ophiorrhiza rugosa
• Ophiorrhiza succirubra
• Ophiorrhiza meenachilarensis^{[10] [11]}

External links

• Vascular Plants of Gaoligong Shan, Yunnan, China: Ophiorrhiza
• Darwin, S. P. (1976). The Pacific species of Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae). Lyonia 1:2.

Notes and References

1. Joseph, G. and J. P. Joseph. Rediscovery of Ophiorrhiza caudata (Rubiaceae) from the Western Ghats of Kerala. Rheedia 19 45.
2. Viraporn, V., et al. (2010). Correlation of camptothecin-producing ability and phylogenetic relationship in the genus Ophiorrhiza. Planta Med. in pub.
3. Sirikantaramas, S., et al. (2008). Mutations in topoisomerase I as a self-resistance mechanism coevolved with the production of the anticancer alkaloid camptothecin in plants. PNAS 105:18 6782.
4. Arbain, D, et al. (1998). Unusual indole alkaloids from Ophiorrhiza blumeana Korth. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans 1.
5. Asano, T., et al. (2004). Camptothecin production by in vitro cultures of Ophiorrhiza liukiuensis and O. kuroiwai. Plant Biotechnology 21:4 275.
6. Chu, F., et al. (2006). Taxonomic Status of Ophiorrhiza michelloides (Masam.) X. R. Lo (Rubiaceae) in Taiwan. Taiwania 51:2 143.
7. Nakamura, K., et al. (2006). Phylogenetic systematics of the monotypic genus Hayataella (Rubiaceae) endemic to Taiwan. Journal of Plant Research 119:657–661.
8. Beegum, A. S., et al. (2007). Organogenesis from leaf and internode explants of Ophiorrhiza prostrata, an anticancer drug (camptothecin) producing plant. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology 10:1.
9. Nakamura, K., et al. (2006). Homostyly and autogamy in Ophiorrhiza pumila (Rubiaceae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago. Journal of Japanese Botany 81:113–120.
10. Web site: meenachilarensis . universityofflorence.medium.com . 30 November 2020 . 8 December 2020.
11. Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography . Webbia . 18 November 2020 . 75 . 2 . 231–236 . oaj.fupress.net . 10.36253/jopt-8508 . 230636509 . 8 December 2020. free .