Analysis of Taxol and Cephalomannine in Cheju Island Yew (Taxus cuspidata S. et Z.)

제주도 주목(Taxus cuspidata S. et Z.)의 Taxol 및 Cephalomannine의 함량분석

To seek for a stable supply source of taxol as an anticancer agent urgently needed for the treatment of ovarian cancer, the concentrations of taxol and cephalomannine in bark and needles of 37 yew (Taxus cuspidata S. et Z.) trees grown in 6 locations of Cheju Island were analyzed by using HPLC. A considerable variation in the content was observed in plant part and the location. The average taxol content in the needles ($220.3{\;}{\pm}{\;}56{\;}{\mu}g$ per g dry wt) was ca. 4 times hgher than that in the bark, whereas the content of cephalomannine in the needles $(353{\;}{\pm}{\;}141{\;}{\mu}g)$ was ca. 5 times higher than that in the bark. Particularly, even within Cheju Island, needles from trees grown near the coast including Sogwipo area contained much higher taxol contents than needles from trees grown at mountain locations, indicating that taxane level is affected by environmental effects. Taxol in the needles was confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry. These results suggest that the needles of yew trees growing in Cheju Island may provide a renewable source for taxol.