paclitaxel and other anticancer taxoids were found in oak leaves

Diterpene alkaloid paclitaxel (with the trade name taxol) and other taxoids are well-known anticancer drugs originally extracted from different taxus spp. (gymnosperm). the significant demand for paclitaxel prompted researchers to investigate taxoids in alternative species. finding taxans in certain angiosperms like corylus avelana and some endophyte fungi of taxus and non-taxus species brought the hypothesis that genes involved in paclitaxel production may have horizontally been transferred from taxus sp. to other plants in their vicinity, through the mediation of microorganisms. the common habitats of certain oak species, i.e., quercus brantii, q. macranthera, and q. castaneifolia with taxane-bearing plants in conserved regions of iranian forests, promoted us to investigate the presence of taxoids in these species. the existence of paclitaxel, 10-deacetyl baccatin iii, baccatin iii, 10-deacetyl paclitaxel, cephalomannine, 7-epi 10 deacetyl paclitaxel, and 7-epi paclitaxel in oak leaf extracts was shown by hplc and their structure were confirmed through lc-ms analysis. the cytotoxic potential of crude extracts was tested against human embryonic kidney (hek 293t) and hepatocellular carcinoma (hepg2) cell lines. the results suggest that oak leaf can be introduced as a novel source of taxanes both for therapeutic utilization and as new precursors for upcoming paclitaxel semi-synthesis approaches.

paclitaxel and other anticancer taxoids were found in oak leaves

diterpene alkaloid paclitaxel (with the trade name taxol) and other taxoids are well-known anticancer drugs originally extracted from different taxus spp. (gymnosperm). the significant demand for paclitaxel prompted researchers to investigate taxoids in alternative species. finding taxans in certain angiosperms like corylus avelana and some endophyte fungi of taxus and non-taxus species brought the hypothesis that genes involved in paclitaxel production may have horizontally been transferred from taxus sp. to other plants in their vicinity, through the mediation of microorganisms. the common habitats of certain oak species, i.e., quercus brantii, q. macranthera, and q. castaneifolia with taxane-bearing plants in conserved regions of iranian forests, promoted us to investigate the presence of taxoids in these species. the existence of paclitaxel, 10-deacetyl baccatin iii, baccatin iii, 10-deacetyl paclitaxel, cephalomannine, 7-epi 10 deacetyl paclitaxel, and 7-epi paclitaxel in oak leaf extracts was shown by hplc and their structure were confirmed through lc-ms analysis. the cytotoxic potential of crude extracts was tested against human embryonic kidney (hek 293t) and hepatocellular carcinoma (hepg2) cell lines. the results suggest that oak leaf can be introduced as a novel source of taxanes both for therapeutic utilization and as new precursors for upcoming paclitaxel semi-synthesis approaches.