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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #232717
Title: Bioprospection of Eastern Red Cedar from Nine Physiographic Regions in Mississippi

Author
item GAWDE, ARCHANA - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item ZHELJAZKOV, VALTCHO - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item MADDOX, VICTOR - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item Cantrell, Charles

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2009
Publication Date: 2/18/2009
Citation: Gawde, A.J., Zheljazkov, V.D., Maddox, V., Cantrell, C.L. 2009. Bioprospection of Eastern Red Cedar from Nine Physiographic Regions in Mississippi. Industrial Crops and Products. 30:59-64.

Interpretive Summary: Juniperus virginiana, commonly called as Eastern Red Cedar, is a widely distributed species in the United States and parts of Canada. It produces two important chemical products, the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin and essential oil. The objective of this study was to evaluate variations in podophyllotoxin concentration in Juniperus virginiana, across nine physiographic regions of Mississippi: Tishomingo Hills, Bluff, Blackland Prairie, Jackson Prairie, Delta, Pontotoc Ridge, Flatwoods, North Central Plateau, and Piney woods. The content of podophyllotoxin in red cedar needles across different physiographic regions varied from 0.11% to 0.36%. This variation was not statistically significant, suggesting that the variation in soil nutrient concentrations and topography within Mississippi may not affect the synthesis and the accumulation of podophyllotoxin in J. virginiana, which seems to be a stable trait. The results demonstrated that J. viriginiana could be used as a consistent source of podophyllotoxin, and the collection of plant material for commercial extraction of podophyllotoxin can be done independent of the site of collection within the state.

Technical Abstract: Juniperus virginiana (Family Cupressaceae), commonly called as Eastern Red Cedar, is a widely distributed species in the United States and parts of Canada. It produces two important chemical products, the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin and essential oil. The objective of this study was to evaluate variations in podophyllotoxin concentration in Juniperus virginiana, across nine physiographic regions of Mississippi: Tishomingo Hills, Bluff, Blackland Prairie, Jackson Prairie, Delta, Pontotoc Ridge, Flatwoods, North Central Plateau, and Piney woods. The content of podophyllotoxin in red cedar needles across different physiographic regions varied from 0.11% to 0.36%. This variation was not statistically significant, suggesting that the variation in soil nutrient concentrations and topography within Mississippi may not affect the synthesis and the accumulation of podophyllotoxin in J. virginiana, which seems to be a stable trait. The results demonstrated that J. viriginiana could be used as a consistent source of podophyllotoxin, and the collection of plant material for commercial extraction of podophyllotoxin can be done independent of the site of collection within the state.