Effect of tar compounds on the purification efficiency of paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis.

We investigated the effect of tar compounds on the purification efficiency of paclitaxel from Taxus chinensis and evaluated the adsorbent for their removal. The tar compounds had an adverse effect on the purifying process in increasing order of 1-methylnaphthalene, o-xylene < acenaphthene < 2-picoline < 2,5-xylenol. As a result of adsorbent treatment, HP20 gave the highest yield (97.8%) and purity (44.7%) of paclitaxel. The highest removal (85.2%) of major tar compounds in biomass was also obtained through adsorbent treatment with HP20. The purification efficiency of paclitaxel by adsorbent treatment increased as the removal of tar compounds increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]