Fluctuation of Phytoecdysteroids in Developing Shoots of Taxus cuspidata

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1990

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

Phytoecdysteroids from the vegetative shoots of Taxus cuspidate, an evergreen shrub, were found to fluctuate at different developmental stages during shoot growth. The quantity of ecdysterone (2β,3β,14α,20 R,22 R,25-hexahydroxy-5β-cholest-7-en-6-one) was 47±5 mg/kg fresh weight, while the quantity of ponasterone A (2β,3β,14α,20 R,22 R-pentahydroxy-5β-cholest-7-en-6-one) was 23 mg/kg from leaves of one- to two-year-(52-104 week) old shoots. One-, four-, 18- and 37-week-old leaves and soft shoots contained, on a fresh weight basis, respectively, 56, 52, 114 and 127 mg/kg of ecdysterone and 2, 2, 23 and 15 mg/kg of ponasterone A. These results indicate that ecdysteroid accumulation is dynamic and possibly driven by cycles of synthesis, transport, and degradation.

Publisher's Statement

© 1990

Publication Title

Phytochemistry

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS