A new endophytic taxol- and baccatin III-producing fungus isolated from Taxus chinensis var. mairei

120 endophytic fungi were isolated from the old inner bark of Taxus chinensis var. mairei and only a fungus was detected to produce Taxol and related taxanes in potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The presence of taxol and baccatin III was confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay (CIEIA). The fungal compound showed cytotoxic activity on liver cancer cell line BEL7402 in vitro. The strain was identified as one of Didymostilbe sp. (designated as DF110) according to its morphological characteristics. The isolation of such fungi provided a promising alternative approach to producing taxol in the near future.