Abstract: In an effort to search for natural products from Taxus cuspidata with improved pharmacological features compared to paclitaxel,7-xylosyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel has been isolated and identified by our group. The objective of the present study was to optimize and establish the extraction process of 7-xylosyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel from T.cuspidata. RP-HPLC mothod was applied to determine the content of 7-xylosyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel. The orthogonal test was adopted to examine the effects of the 4 factors including ethanol concentration, ethanol volume, number of extraction cycles and extraction time. Ethanol concentration and ethanol volume were essential factors influencing the extraction of 7-xylosyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel. High concentration and amount of ethanol facilitated the extraction. Number or extraction cycles and extraction time were also important. Single-factor test indicated, 2 h and 2 cycles were the best. The optimum extractive condition are N9(A₃B₃C₂D₁) and N8(A₃B₂C₁D₃).

Key words: 7-xylosyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel, HPLC, separation and purification, identification, orthogonal test