Evidence for Paclitaxel from Three New Endophytic Fungi of Himalayan Yew of Nepal

Abstract

Taxus wallichiana, collected from the Himalayan region of Nepal, yielded, among others, three different endophytic fungi including Sporormia minima, Trichothecium sp., and an unidentified dimorphic fungus. Each was shown to produce paclitaxel in a culture medium. Each of these fungi represents a new report as a paclitaxel producer. The production of paclitaxel was confirmed by an immunoassay that utilized monoclonal antibodies, TLC chromatography as well as high performance liquid chromatography combined with on-line mass spectrometry.

References

• 1 Wani M C, Taylor H L, Wall M E, Coggon P, McPhail A T. Plant antitumor agents. VI. The isolation and structure of taxol, a novel antileukemic and antitumor agent from Taxus brevifolia. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1971; 93: 2325 - 7; McLaughlin JL, Miller RW, Powell RG, Smith CR Jr. 19-Hydroxybaccatin III, 10-deacetylcephlomannine, and 10-deacetyltaxol: new antitumor taxanes from Taxus wallichiana .  J. Nat. Prod.. 1981;  44 312-9
• 2 Stierle A, Strobel G, Stierle D. Taxol and taxane production by Taxomyces andreanae, an endophytic fungus of pacific yew.  Science. 1993;  260 214-6
• 3 Strobel G A, Yang X, Sears J, Kramer R, Sidhu R, Hess W M. Taxol from Pestalotiopsis microspora, an endophytic fungus of Taxus wallichiana .  Microbiology. 1996;  142 435-40
• 4 Strobel G A, Hess W M, Ford E, Sidhu R S, Yang X. Taxol from fungal endophytes and the issue of biodiversity.  J. Industrial Microbiology. 1996;  17 417-23
• 5 Li J, Strobel G, Sidhu R, Hess W M. Endophytic taxol-producing fungi from bald cypress, Taxodium distichum .  Microbiology. 1996;  142 2223-6
• 6 Cited in: Wright A D, Aust H J, Draeger S, Schulz B. Geniculol, a new biologically active diterpene from the endophytic fungus Geniculosporum sp.  J. Nat. Prod.. 1999;  62 155-7
• 7 Deacon J W. Differentiation, 4.  Modern Mycology, Blackwell Science. 1997;  66-73
• 8 Grothaus P G, Raybould T JG, Bignami G, Lazo C B, Byrnes J BJ. An enzyme immunoassay for the determination of taxol and taxanes in Taxus sp. tissues and human plasma.  J. Immunol. Methods. 1993;  158 5-15
• 9 Barnett H L, Hunter B B. Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi. Minnesota; Burgess Publishing Company 1972: 104-5
• 10 Clements F E, Shear C L. The Genera of Fungi. New York, London; Hafner Publishing company 1968: Plate No. 13
• 11 Cardellina J H. HPLC separation of taxol and cephalomannine.  J. Liq. Chromatogr.. 1991;  14 659-65
• 12 McClure T D, Schram K H, Reimer M LJ. The mass spectroscopy of taxol.  J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrum. 1992;  3 672-9