Taxus
Taxus, commonly known as yew, is a resilient evergreen genus renowned for its profound medicinal significance. While highly toxic if ingested, certain compounds derived from its bark, specifically paclitaxel, have revolutionized oncology. This remarkable plant serves as a vital source for life-saving cancer treatments in modern pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Taxus
- Family: Taxaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae. It is further classified under the order Pinales and the family Taxaceae. Ultimately, the medicinal plant is identified by the genus Taxus.
| 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, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In English, it is most frequently referred to as the Yew, while in French, it is known as l'If. Moving to Spanish, the plant is called Tejo, and in German, it is commonly called Eibe. These names reflect its long-standing presence in botanical and medicinal history throughout Europe and beyond.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution throughout several regions of Northern Europe. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in the country of Denmark. Its presence extends further north into the landscapes of Finland and Norway. Additionally, the species is documented across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations define the primary northern reaches of its habitat.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Yew, possesses several distinct anatomical features that are studied for their medicinal properties. The most recognizable parts are the dark green needles, which are actually specialized leaves that grow in a dense, linear fashion along the branches. The structural integrity of the plant is provided by its woody stems, which support the weight of the foliage. For various pharmacological applications, researchers often examine the bark and the stem barks, as these areas contain potent alkaloids like paclitaxel, which are essential in cancer treatments.- Total parts
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 16
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| bark | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| needles | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem barks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| clippings | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aril | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Taxus has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include paclitaxel, taxol, Paclitaxel, Taxol, geranylgeranyl diphosphate.
- Total chemicals
- 25
- Scientific sources
- 44
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| paclitaxel | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| taxol | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Paclitaxel | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Taxol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| geranylgeranyl diphosphate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| taxanes | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| taxoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetylbaccatin III | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-deacetylpaclitaxel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Taxus has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antineoplastic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anticancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antineoplastic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Taxus has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, cancers, breast cancer, chemotherapy, inflammation.
- Total uses
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancers | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chemotherapy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lung cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ovarian cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |