Camptothecin is a cytotoxic, quinoline alkaloid, discovered as the active principle of extracts from the Chinese tree C. acuminate, that inhibits the DNA enzyme topoisomerase I (Top1). It binds the Top1-DNA cleavage complex, inducing DNA-strand breaks. Camptothecin has strong anti-tumor activity against a wide range of experimental tumors and inhibits both DNA and RNA synthesis in mammalian cells. It displays cytotoxity in HT-29 cells with an IC50 value of 10 nM and induces DNA damage at concentrations as low as 51 nM in whole cells and 12 nM in isolated nuclei in in vitro assays.