Abstract: Taxol is a natural anticancer agent mainly extracted from Taxus species. Taxanes are the precursors or branches of taxol metabolites, also have the potential for developing as anti-tumor drugs. The seasonal change of contents of six taxanes i.e. taxol, 10-deacetylbaccatin Ⅲ(10-DAB), 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl-taxol (7-xyl-10-DAT), 10-deacetyltaxol (10-DAT), cephalomannine (CE) and 7-epi-10-deacetyl taxol (7-epi-10-DAT) in the branches and leaves of Taxus chinensis var. mairei was studied by high Performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The results showed that the contents of Taxol and 10-DAT were the lowest in August and September, at the same time the contents of 10-DAB and 7-xyl-10-DAT were relatively higher. The seasonal content change of taxol was negatively correlated with 10-DAB, and positively correlated with CE. The seasonal content change of 7-xyl-10-DAT was positively correlated with 10-DAB and 10-DAT, respectively. This paper provided the theory bases for the metabolism and accumulation rules of taxol and related taxanes, it is not only helpful to clarify the biosynthesis key steps and physiological regulation mechanisms of taxol, but also has the guidance significance for Taxus resources development.

Key words: Taxus chinensis var. mairei, seasonal dynamic, taxanes, HPLC