Mandi/Chennai: IIT Madras and IIT Mandi researchers have engineered plant cejlls to boost Camptothecin production, a vital cancer-treating compound.

 This method, using computational tools, reduces reliance on endangered plants like Nothapodytes nimmoniana.

The study, funded by SERB and DST, Government of India, was published in the Journal Frontiers of Plant Science.

The approach aims to meet the rising demand for anti-cancer drugs and conserve natural resources.

The research team, led by Ms. Sarayu Murali of IIT Madras, utilized metabolic engineering to achieve a five-fold increase in Camptothecin yield.

The method has broader applications for producing valuable phytochemicals sustainably.

The findings address the urgent need for increased anti-cancer drug production, considering the rising cancer cases globally.