Taxane diterpenoids from Taxus baccata L. growing in Iran

There are eight Taxus species and two hybrids in the world and Taxus baccata L. [European yew] is the single representative in Iran. Until now, a large number of taxoids possessing different skeleton systems, as well as lignans, flavonoids, steroids and sugar derivatives have been isolated from various Taxus species. Taxoids are highly oxygenated diterpenes isolated from different species of yew trees [family Taxaceae]. They have received considerable attention after the discovery of the clinical efficacy of paclitaxel against different cancers due to its remarkable inhibition of microtubules polymerization leading to apoptosis of cancer cells. This study was conducted for extraction, purification and identification of taxoids occurring in the aerial parts of Taxus baccata L. growing in Iran. The plant materials were extracted with organic solvent and after defatting, partitioning, column chromatography and thin layer chromatography steps, the obtained compounds were characterized on the basis of spectral data. Two taxane diterpenoids were isolated. The structures of these taxoids were established as 5-Cinnamoyl-10-acetyltaxicin-I and 2-Deacetyltaxinine E on the basis of spectral analysis. These two taxoids were not previously encountered in Taxus baccata L. aspecies

Taxezopidine-G from needles and young stems of taxus baccata L.growing in Iran

Taxus species are important due to their content of Taxol, baccatin III, 10- deacetyl baccatin and other taxoids suitable to change to active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are used as anti-neoplastic agents. Investigations on taxoids carried out during the past four decades, resulted in identification of more than 350 taxoids. This study aimed to isolate and identify taxoids of Taxus baccata endogenous to the north of Iran. Removing of fats, extraction of components with an organic solvent and then separation and purification of components with silica gel based column chromatography was done. Identification was carried out using NMR spectra of components. Taxezopidine-G was separated and identified. Taxezopidine-G in Taxus baccata was isolated which had not been repoted in this spcies, previously