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

[Taxuspinanane G from the aerial parts of Taxus baccata L. growing in Iran]

The discovery of paclitaxel [Taxol] as a potent anticancer drug from Taxus brevifolia has encouraged several groups all over the world to conduct research work on other Taxus species, in order to isolate potentially more effective paclitaxel derivatives for the treatment of various cancers or as starting materials for semi-synthesis As a consequence, more than 400 taxane-type diterpenes have been isolated from various Taxus plants, and some of them were found to possess interesting anticancer activity. This study was conducted for isolation, purification and identification of taxoids occurring in the aerial parts of Taxus baccata L. from Iran. The aerial parts of the plant were extracted with organic solvent and after defatting, partitioning, column chromatography and thin layer chromatography steps, the isolated compound was identified on the basis of NMR spectrum data. Taxuspinanane G was isolated and identified according to the NMR spectrum data. In this study, taxuspinanane G was isolated for the first time from the aerial parts of Taxus baccata L. This is the first report of the isolation of this compound from the given species

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Artemisia annua L. essential oil from Iran

The composition of the essential oil obtained from the dried flowering aerial parts of Artemisia annua L. [Compositae] was analysed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-two components were identified in the essential oil of A. annua L. with campher [48.00%], 1,8-cineole [9.39%], camphene [6.98%] and spathulenol [4.89%] as major components. The essential oil was evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The activity was more pronounced against fungal organisms than against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

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