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In this paper the determination of taxol and the related compounds 10-deacetyltaxol, cephalomannine and 10-deacetylcephalomannine in various parts of Tarus cuspidatu Sieb et Zucc. is reported. All four compounds were well separated on a 5 pm Spheri-5 RP-18 column with a mobile phase composed of water:acetonitrile:tetrahydrofuran (55:35:10). The concentrations of these compounds are quite different for different parts of the plant and are highest in stem bark. Furthermore, the content is related to the age of the plant, the older plants containing larger quantities of taxane diterpenoids. We have also found that the contents of taxol and related compounds in the shrub are usually higher than those in the tree.

The versatility and resolving power of countercurrent chromatography (CCC) has been demonstrated with a newly developed analytical high-speed planet centrifuge system. Interfacing countercurrent chromatography with mass spectrometry (MS) provides a new analytical methodology that integrates the advantages of countercurrent chromatography with the low detection limit and identification capability of mass spectrometry. In this paper the capability of thermospray CCC/MS is demonstrated in identifying and validating the bioactive and structurally known lignans from a crude extract of Schisandra rubriflora Rhed et Wils, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treatment of hepatitis.