Abstract: This study was designed to analyze the nutritional composition of Taxus chinensis var. mairei seeds and the acute toxicity of its aril. The seed aril of Taxus chinensis var. mairei was found to contain 8.3% soluble solid, 10.28% soluble sugar, 1.39% crude protein, 2.17% crude fiber, 2.76% crude fat and 16.31 mg of vitamin C per100 g of sample. The oil content of its seed kernel was 28.55% and 6 fatty acids were identified from the seed oil of Taxus chinensis var. mairei, including 4 unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, two linoleic acid isomers and 11-eicosenoic acid) with a relative content 94.59%. The seed aril of Taxus chinensis var. mairei contained 15 amino acids and 8 essential amino acids accounted for 43.71% of total amino acids. Ca as a relatively abundant major element and Fe as a relatively abundant trace element were detected. No obvious poisoning symptoms and no deaths were observed in mice during 14 days after oral administration of the seed aril of Taxus chinensis var. mairei., suggesting that this material had no acute toxicity.

Key words: Taxus chinensis var. mairei, aril, nutritional components, acute toxicity test