Taxus wallichiana
Himalayan yew
Taxus wallichiana, commonly known as the Himalayan Yew, is a majestic coniferous evergreen native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. Renowned for its potent medicinal properties, it serves as a vital source of taxanes, crucial alkaloids used globally in advanced cancer treatments and diverse pharmacological applications.
- Scientific name: Taxus wallichiana
- Family: Taxaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Pinidae and order Pinales, it is further categorized into the family Taxaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Taxus and the specific species Taxus wallichiana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Pinidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pinales | WCVP |
| Family | Taxaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Taxus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Taxus wallichiana, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In German, it is called Himalaja-Eibe, while in Azerbaijani, it is known as Himalay qaraçöhrəsi. In Nepal, the local name is लौठसल्ला, and in Poland, it is referred to as Cis Wallicha. Additionally, in Vietnamese, this medicinal species is called Thông đỏ nam.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Himalaja-Eibe | Wikidata |
| az | Himalay qaraçöhrəsi | Wikidata |
| ne | लौठसल्ला | Wikidata |
| pl | Cis Wallicha | Wikidata |
| vi | Thông đỏ nam | Wikidata |
| zh | 须弥红豆杉 | Wikidata |
| nb | Himalayabarlind | Wikidata |
| ar | طقسوس الهيمالايا | Wikidata |
| bg | валишов тис | Wikidata |
| ja | インドイチイ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found specifically in the South-Central areas and throughout Tibet. Its range extends significantly into the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits the East Himalaya and Nepal. Additionally, the species is present in the Indo-China region, specifically within Laos. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for diverse mountainous and subtropical habitats.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Philippines | WCVP |
| Malesia | Sulawesi | WCVP |
| Malesia | Sumatera | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Taxus wallichiana, is a coniferous evergreen characterized by its distinct morphological features used in various medicinal applications. The most recognizable parts are the soft, dark green needles, which are arranged spirally on the branches. These leaves, which are synonymous with the singular needle structure, contain various bioactive compounds. Beyond the foliage, the bark of the tree is often harvested for its chemical properties, while the dense wood provides the structural integrity of the species. Together, these components—the needles, leaves, bark, and wood—constitute the essential parts of this significant medicinal plant.- Total parts
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 36
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| needles | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| wood | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| needle | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| young stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| yew needles | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem segments | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Taxus wallichiana has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 27 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include taxoids, paclitaxel, taxol, 1-hydroxy- 2-deacetoxy-5-decinnamoyl-taxinine j, 10-deacetylcephalomannine.
- Total chemicals
- 23
- Scientific sources
- 27
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| taxoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| paclitaxel | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| taxol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-hydroxy- 2-deacetoxy-5-decinnamoyl-taxinine j | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetylcephalomannine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetyltaxol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 19-Hydroxybaccatin III | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arachidic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| behenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| brevifoliol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Taxus wallichiana has 5 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Taxus wallichiana has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Analgesic, actinobacteria, bacteria, breast cancer.
- Total uses
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| actinobacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacteria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fungi | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| headache | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ovarian cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |