TAXOL AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS IN KOREAN NATIVE YEWS (TAXUS-CUSPIDATA)

The concentrations of taxol and related compounds in the bark and need les of Taxus cuspidata grown on Mt. Jiri, Mt. Sobaek, and Cheju Island , and T. cuspidata var. latifolia on Ullung Island in Korea were deter mined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The taxane con tent significantly varied with the location and plant part. The taxol content in the bark of native yews from Mt. Jiri and Mt. Sobaek was hi gh when compared to that reported for Pacific yew (T. brevifolia), whe reas bark from trees on Cheju and Ullung islands contained a much lowe r level. Surprisingly, the needles from Cheju and Ullung islands conta ined a much higher level of taxol (0.022% and 0.0173%, respectively) t han those of intermountain locations (0.0058% to 0.0085%), on the basi s of dry weight. The bark and needles of T. cuspidata var. latifolia o n Ullung Island also contained relatively high concentrations of 10-de acetylbaccatin III, 0.0497% and 0.0545%, respectively, and indicated t hat environmental factors may affect the quantity. Taxol in the needle s was confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry. These results sugge st that foliage from yew trees growing in their natural habitats on Ch eju and Ullung islands may provide a renewable source for taxol.