title: Taxus spp. needles contain amounts of taxol comparable to the bark of Taxus brevifolia: analysis and isolation.
abstract: New sources for the antitumor natural product taxol [1] are needed as demands for this promising cancer chemotherapeutic agent increase. Presently, supplies of taxol for clinical studies are obtained from the bark of Taxus brevifolia, a potentially limited source. Using analytical methods, the needles and stems of six Taxus species have been examined for taxol [1] and 10-deacetylbaccatin III [5], a related compound that can be converted to taxol through a semi-synthetic route. Amounts of taxol comparable to quantities reported from the bark of T. brevifolia were found in the needles of four of the Taxus species investigated. In addition, taxol was isolated from the needles of one Taxus species. Thus, Taxus needles may provide a renewable source of this valuable compound.
authors.affiliation: Program Resources, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research Facility, Maryland 21701.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Witherup
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Look
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Stasko
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ghiorzi
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Muschik
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cragg
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017239:Paclitaxel; D010944:Plants / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D043823:Taxoids; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D014315:Triterpenes; C042213:10-deacetylbaccatine III; D017239:Paclitaxel