Camptothecin, a novel, naturally-occurring pyrrolo(3,4-b)-quinoline alkaloid, and its analogues (collectively known as camptothecins) possess interesting chemistry and important anticancer and antiviral properties. The isolation of various known and unknown camptothecins from the Indian plant Nothapodytes foetida (Wight) Sleumer (Icacinaceae) and our studies on their chemical and biochemical modifications are briefly reviewed.