Wilson's Plum Yew

Botanical Overview

Wilson’s Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus wilsoniana) is a species in the Cephalotaxaceae family. This species belongs to the Cephalotaxaceae family, a group of flowering plants. Although comprehensive ethnobotanical records are limited, phytochemical studies have identified 8 compounds in this species, suggesting potential medicinal value.

General Description

wilsoniana, commonly known as Taiwan plum yew, Taiwan cow’s-tail pine, and Wilson plum yew, is an endangered variety of conifer endemic to Taiwan.

ⓘ Information
Description adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Geographic Distribution

Wilson’s Plum Yew has been recorded in 6 countries and territories worldwide, including Canada, China, United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, and others.

Active Compounds

Phytochemical research has identified 8 compounds in this species, including a diverse array of phytochemical classes (see the Complete Chemical Inventory below for the full list).

The identified compounds include the following categories:

  • Alkaloid: nitrogenous compounds with diverse pharmacological activities

Research Status

Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. Additional phytochemical investigation could identify novel bioactive compounds in this plant.

ⓘ Information
Information on this page is compiled from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases (USDA ARS), a public domain resource. Consult a healthcare professional before using any herbal preparation.

Distribution and Conservation

Reported distribution: Canada, China, United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Taiwan.

Complete Chemical Inventory

CompoundFormulaMW
3-EPISCHELHAMMERICINEC₁₉H₂₃NO₃313.4 Da
ACETYLCEPHALOTAXINEC₂₀H₂₃NO₅357.4 Da
CEPHALOTAXID
CEPHALOTAXINEC₁₈H₂₁NO₄315.4 Da
EPIWILSONINEC₂₀H₂₅NO₄343.4 Da
ISOHARRINGTONINEC₂₈H₃₇NO₉531.6 Da
SCIADOPITYSINC₃₃H₂₄O₁₀580.5 Da
WILSONINEC₂₀H₂₅NO₄343.4 Da

Data from PubChem (NIH/NLM, public domain).


References & Further Reading

External Research Links

Data Sources