Screening for paclitaxel and other taxanes in kernel and shell of Corylus avellana (Hazelnut)

Abstract

Interestingly, paclitaxel was found in shells and leaves of hazelnut plant Corylus avellana. The aim of this present work was to verify whether hazelnut kernel contained paclitaxel. Hazelnut kernels were obtained from two places (local market and Oregon, USA) were analyzed by HPLC-MS. Paclitaxel and other taxanes 10-deacetylbaccatin III, Baccatin III, 10-deacetyl-7-xylosylcephalomannine, 10-deacetyl-7- xylosylpaclitaxel, 10-deacetylpaclitaxel, 7-xylosylpaclitaxel, Cephalomanine, 10-deacetyl-7- epipaclitaxel, 7-epi-paclitaxel were analyzed based on m/z value of molecular ion but none was found except for molecular ion of m/z=854 in the crude extract of kernel from a local market and shell from Oregon, US. The molecular ion was suspected belonging to 7-epi-paclitaxel, an isomer of paclitaxel. 7- epi-paclitaxel could be present in the extract of kernel and shell of tested varieties in this study. Paclitaxel was not detected it could have degraded during sampling process or the tested varieties did not produce paclitaxel or was too low to be detected.