Determination of taxane concentrations in Taxus canadensis clippings usinghigh performance liquid chromatographic analysis with an internal standard

Clippings of Taxus canadensis were collected and divided into needles, twig s and whole clippings samples. The biomass was extracted and analysed for t axanes using high performance liquid chromatography. The addition of n-octy lbenzamide as an internal standard was found to reduce the standard deviati on of calculated yields by a third. Paclitaxel was found to be highest in n eedles (0.0434 % dry wt). The presence of paclitaxel was confirmed by photo diode array spectra, Impurities were found to co-elute with other taxanes, A compound was tentatively identified as 9-dihydro-13-acetylbaccatin III ba sed on residence time and UV spectra, The effect of storage on paclitaxel c ontent was investigated and it was found that paclitaxel was stable in drie d needles stored at room temperature for at least 1 year. Copyright (C) 199 9 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.