Podophyllotoxin Concentration In Needles of Juniperus Virginiana Collected From Mississippi to North Dakota

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) is a perennial woody plant with a wide ecological adaptation and numerous industrial uses.  Red cedar lumber wastes (but not red cedar leaf biomass) have been utilized for production of juniper essential oil.  Previous research has shown that the eastern red cedar leaf biomass contains podophyllotoxin, an anticancer compound and the precursor of semi-synthetic drugs used in chemotherapy; etoposide, teniposide and ethopophos.  Currently, podophyllotoxin is commercially obtained from Indian mayapple  (Podophyllum emodii Wall.) However, prior research demonstrated that eastern red cedar may be a good alternative as a source for podophyllotoxin.  The objective of this study was to establish the limits of variations of podophyllotoxin concentration in Eastern red cedar in the USA and identify desirable genotypes.  In 2008, forty six sites were sampled in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Dakota. All samples contained podophyllotoxin; its concentration varied from 0.017 to 0.42% on a dry matter basis.  It was concluded that Eastern red cedar could be used as a sustainable source for podophyllotoxin.  We are continuing the work to select high-podophyllotoxin genotypes, which could be developed as cultivars for commercial production of podophyllotoxin.