Modulation of multidrug resistance by taxuspine C and other taxoids from Japanese yew

Taxuspine C (1), a new taxoid from the Japanese yew Taxus cuspidata, increasing the cellular accumulation of vincristine (VCR) in multidrug-resistant tumor cells as potent as verapamil enhanced the chemotherapeutic effect of VCR in P388/VCR-bearing mice. When taxuspine C (1) was given i.p. daily at 200 mg/kg with 0.2 mg/kg VCR for 5 days, a treated/control (T/C) value of 138% was obtained. The other new taxoids, taxezopidines G (8) and H (9), from the yew also increased the VCR accumulation as potent as verapamil. These results suggest that some taxoids may be useful for overcoming multidrug resistance in tumor cells.