Qualitative and quantitative determination of taxol and related compounds in <i>Taxus cuspidata</i> Sieb et Zucc

Abstract

Abstract In this paper the determination of taxol and the related compounds 10‐deacetyltaxol, cephalomannine and 10‐deacetylcephalomannine in various parts of Taxus cuspidata Sieb et Zucc. is reported. All four compounds were well separated on a 5 μm Spheri‐5 RP‐18 column with a mobile phase composed of water:acetonitrile:tetra‐hydrofuran (55:35:10). The concentrations of these compounds are quite different for different parts of the plant and are highest in stem bark. Furthermore, the content is related to the age of the plant, the older plants containing larger quantities of taxane diterpenoids. We have also found that the contents of taxol and related compounds in the shrub are usually higher than those in the tree.