Supercritical fluid extraction of taxol and baccatin III from needles of Taxus cuspidata

Abstract

Taxol and baccatin III were extracted from the ground needles of Taxus cuspidata using supercritical carbon dioxide mixed with 3 wt % ethanol as a cosolvent. The pressure and temperature ranges used to attain supercritical fluid condition are 100300 bar and 4070 C, respectively. However, the amount of taxol and baccatin III in the extract obtained at 100 bar was not noticeable, while the major portion of extract was found to be the waxy compounds. The highest selectivity of taxol and baccatin III were about 0.094 and 0.158 wt %, respectively, at 40 C and 300 bar. At the same pressure and temperature condition, taxol and baccatin III selectivities in the extract obtained from the ground seeds of Taxus cuspidata was about 0.198 and 0.157 wt %, respectively.