The regeneration of plantlets was successful from Ophiorrhiza pumila callus cultures, from which a new glucosyloxy camptothecin, 9-beta-glucosyloxycamptothecin, together with 15 metabolites including six camptothecin-related alkaloids was isolated. (3S)-Deoxypumiloside, one of the plausible biogenetic precursors of camptothecin, could not be found, whereas the (3R) epimer was isolated from the regenerated plants. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.