Bioprospection of Eastern red cedar from nine physiographic regions in Mississippi

Juniperus virginiana L. (Family Cupressaceae), commonly called Eastern red cedar, is a widely distributed species in the United States and parts of Canada. It produces two important chemical products, the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin and essential oil. The objective of this study was to evaluate variations in podophyllotoxin concentration in Eastern red cedar, across nine physiographic regions in Mississippi: Tishomingo Hills, Bluff Region, Blackland Prairie, Jackson Prairie, Delta, Pontotoc Ridge, Flatwoods, North Central Plateau, and Piney Woods. The concentration of podophyllotoxin in red cedar needles across different physiographic regions varied from 0.11% to 0.36%. This variation was not statistically significant in 2007 nor in 2008, suggesting that soil nutrient concentrations and topography within Mississippi may not affect the synthesis and the accumulation of podophyllotoxin in Eastern red cedar. Podophyllotoxin accumulation seems to be a stable trait. The results demonstrated that J. viriginiana could be used as a consistent source of podophyllotoxin and that the collection of plant material for commercial extraction of podophyllotoxin can be done independent of the site of collection within the state.