Totarol (Tot)

Totarol is a meroterpene, and more precisely a terpenophenolic, a chemical compound that is part terpene and part natural phenol. It is a naturally produced diterpene that is bioactive as (+)-totarol. It was first isolated by McDowell and Esterfield from the heartwood of Podocarpus totara, a yew tree found in New Zealand. Podocarpus totara was investigated for unique molecules due to the tree’s increased resistance to rotting. Recent studies have confirmed (+)-totarol’s unique antimicrobial and therapeutic properties. Consequently, (+)-totarol is a promising candidate for a new source of drugs and has been the goal of numerous syntheses. Although totarol was first isolated in Podocarpus totara, (+)-totarol has also been identified in numerous other species of Podocarpaceae and Cupressaceae, with the majority found in the Podocarpus family of the Podocarpaceae and the Cupressoideae subfamily of the Cupressaceae.