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Multiple Choice

Paclitaxel was originally isolated from?

Paclitaxel was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). This natural product from the yew was found to stabilize microtubules and inhibit cell division, making it a powerful anticancer agent. The other options do not produce paclitaxel—daisies, pines, and kelp are not sources of this compound. Because harvesting yew bark is not sustainable, production later shifted to semi-synthetic methods using precursors from the European yew (Taxus baccata) or via plant cell culture.

Paclitaxel was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). This natural product from the yew was found to stabilize microtubules and inhibit cell division, making it a powerful anticancer agent. The other options do not produce paclitaxel—daisies, pines, and kelp are not sources of this compound. Because harvesting yew bark is not sustainable, production later shifted to semi-synthetic methods using precursors from the European yew (Taxus baccata) or via plant cell culture.