The concentrations of paclitaxel, 10-deacetylbaccatin III (10-DAB III), bas
ic taxoids (= "total alkaloids", TA), taxine B and isotaxine 8 (= "taxines
B", TBS) in the dried needles of 127 trees belonging to 30 Taxus cultivars
and species were determined by HPLC. Neutral and basic taxoid contents vari
ed in individual trees within species as well as among varieties and specie
s. The objective of this large analysis was to select the highest-yielding
trees for each metabolite.