Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of Taxus baccata L. (Taxaceae) by successive chromatographic methods resulted in the isolation of the lignans; lariciresinol (1), taxiresinol (2), 3'-demethylisolariciresinol-9'-hydroxyisopropylether (3), isolariciresinol (4) and 3-demethylisolariciresinol (5) as well as taxoids. Compounds 1 - 5 were evaluated for their several biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anti-ulcerogenic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant as well as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activities. In this review, the diverse biological activity profiles of lignan derivative compounds (1 - 5) obtained from T. baccata growing in Turkey will be discussed.

Key words: Taxus baccata, taxaceae, lignans, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anti-ulcerogenic, antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, enzyme inhibitory,antioxidant.