NEW BIOACTIVE TAXOIDS FROM CELL-CULTURES OF TAXUS-BACCATA

Four new taxoids were isolated from cell cultures of Taxus baccata. Th eir structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Two were the aglycones corresponding to previously isolated 7-0-xylosides of taxol C [1] and 10-deacetyltaxol C [2]. The third [3] had an N-methylated s ide-chain, while the fourth, named taxcultine [4], contained an n-prop yl group on the side-chain. All four compounds actively promoted tubul in assembly. Taxol C [1] showed potent and selective cytotoxicity in t he NCI human cell line screen.