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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282044
Title: Bioprospecting for podophyllotoxin in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming

Author
item ZHELIJAZKOV, VALTCHO - Wyoming Research Extension Service
item Cantrell, Charles
item DONEGA, MATEUS - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item ASTATKIE, TESS - Nova Scotia Agricultural College

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2012
Publication Date: 1/15/2013
Citation: Zhelijazkov, V.D., Cantrell, C.L., Donega, M.A., Astatkie, T. 2013. Bioprospecting for podophyllotoxin in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming. Industrial Crops and Products. 43:787-790.

Interpretive Summary: Podophyllotoxin is a natural product used as a chemical precursor for the anti-cancer drugs etoposide and teniposide. These compounds, are used for the treatment of lung cancer, testicular cancer, neuroblastoma, hepatoma. Currently, there is a large international demand for podophyllotoxin. The objective of this study was to evaluate variations in podophyllotoxin concentrations in Juniperus species found in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. It was found that Juniperus species in the Big Horn Mountains included three species; J. communis L. (common juniper), J. horizontalis Moench. (creeping juniper) and J. scopulorum Sarg. (Rocky Mountain juniper). The range of concentrations in podophyllotoxin in J. horizontalis and J. scopulorum in the Big Horn Mountains were within the range or (in case of J. horizontalis), much higher than the ones reported previously for J. virginiana. This is the first report on podophyllotoxin in J. horizontalis. The concentrations of podophyllotoxin in some accessions of J. horizontalis were twice as high as the ones reported previously for any other Junipers. This study demonstrated that Juniperus species in the Big Horn Mountains have a potential to be used as a source for podophyllotoxin.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate variations in podophyllotoxin concentrations in Juniperus species found in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. It was found that Juniperus species in the Big Horn Mountains included three species; J. communis L. (common juniper), J. horizontalis Moench. (creeping juniper) and J. scopulorum Sarg. (Rocky Mountain juniper). Of these species, none of the 36 accessions of J. communis contained detectable amounts of podophyllotoxin. All accessions of J. scopulorum but one contained podophyllotoxin. Podophyllotoxin concentration in J. horizontalis and J. scopulorum did not correlate to the elevation of the selection sites. The concentration of podophyllotoxin in J. scopulorum ranged from 0 to 0.40 %, while the concentration of podophyllotoxin in in J. horizontalis ranged from 0.27 to 0.73 %. Overall, J. horizontalis accessions in the Big Horn Mountains showed higher concentration of podophyllotoxin than the one in J. scopulorum. The range of concentrations in podophyllotoxin in J. horizontalis and J. scopulorum in the Big Horn Mountains were within the range or (in case of J. horizontalis), much higher than the ones reported previously for J. virginiana. This is the first report on podophyllotoxin in J. horizontalis. The concentrations of podophyllotoxin in some accessions of J. horizontalis were twice as high as the ones reported previously for any other Junipers. This study demonstrated that Juniperus species in the Big Horn Mountains have a potential to be used as a source for podophyllotoxin.