LIGNANS, BIFLAVONES AND TAXOIDS FROM HIMALAYAN TAXUS BACCATA

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0031-9422(94)00678-M

Chemical investigation of the twigs (separated from the needles) of the Himalayan yew, Taxus baccata, has culminated in the isolation of a new lignan, 4'-O-demethylsuchilactone, along with eight phenolic compounds, (-)-rhododendrol, (-)-rhododendrin, sciadopytisin, ginkgetin, kayaflavone, (-)-secoisolariciresinol, suchilactone and a lignan diol, not previously encountered in nature.Three taxoids, brevifoliol, 13-decinnamoyltaxchinin B and 10-deacetylbaccatin III were also isolated.This is the first report on the phytoconstituents isolated only fom the twigs of the Himalayan yew. - Key words: Taxus baccata; Taxaceae; twigs; phenolics; biflavones; lignans; taxoids; 4'-O-demethylsuchilactone.