Taxoids from Cell Cultures of Taxus Chinensis

A cell culture of Taxus chinensis was found to produce taxoids in 4% yield (dry weight) after stimulation with methyl jasmonate. From the culture medium and cell mass, 16 taxoids were isolated. The structures were determined by two-dimensional gradient-enhanced DQF-COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY NMR experiments. The major taxoids of the culture were esterified at C-14 of the taxoid ring system. Five new taxoids were identified as minor metabolites and were assigned as 2 α-benzoxy-4 α,10 β-diacetoxy-1 β,7 β,9 α-trihydroxytax-11-ene, 2 α-benzoxy-4 α-acetoxy-1 β,7 β,10 β-trihydroxy-9-dehydrotax-11-ene, 2 α-benzoxy-4 α,7 β, 9 α,10 β-tetraacetoxy-1 β-hydroxytax-11-ene, 2 α,4 α,7 β,9 α,10 β-pentaacetoxytax-11-ene and 2 α,5 α,7 β,9 α,10 β-penta- acetoxy-4 β,20-epoxytax-11-ene.