Indena S.p.a.

Inverni Della Beffa Spa

Gianfranco Zini

Bruno Gabetta

Methods for obtaining paclitaxel from plants containing paclitaxel are disclosed. Plant material is first obtained from plants containing paclitaxel. Paclitaxel is then extracted from the plant material. Subsequently, paclitaxel is separated from the paclitaxel extract using a series of column chromatography separation steps to obtain at least one fraction containing paclitaxel. The paclitaxel in a fraction that is obtained from the final chromatography step is crystallized. Using these methods, high purity paclitaxel may be efficiently obtained from plants containing paclitaxel.

Methods for obtaining paclitaxel from taxus plants

A method for separating paclitaxel from cephalomannin and other related compounds by obtaining a starting material that contains paclitaxel and cephalomannin; dissolving the starting material in any one of a number of particularly defined solvents such as butyl formate and butyl acetate to form a mixture; subjecting the mixture to column chromatography to obtain an eluted fraction of paclitaxel, an eluted fraction of cephalomannin and a residue; and separately drying the paclitaxel and cephalomannin fractions to obtain separate crystalline forms of paclitaxel and cephalomannin, respectively.

Chromatographic separation method of paclitaxel and cephalomannin

A process for the preparation of extracts with high content in anthocyanosides consists in treating plants, parts of plants or crude extracts with bisulfite ions to give anthocyanoside-bisulfite adducts. Said adducts are then eluted on non ionogenic resins at pH 5-6 and the obtained solution is extracted with polar organic solvents immiscible in water. The obtained extracts have a constant and standardized composition in anthocyanosides.

Growing community of inventors

Milan, Italy

Gianfranco Zini