Paclitaxel was originally isolated from

Prepare for the Drug Discovery and Healthcare Systems Test. Access flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam with our comprehensive resources!

Multiple Choice

Paclitaxel was originally isolated from

Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy drug that was first found in the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia. In the late 1960s, researchers screening plant extracts for anticancer activity isolated this compound from the yew and gave it the name Taxol (now widely known as Paclitaxel). The Pacific yew is a conifer native to the Pacific Northwest, and paclitaxel is one of its secondary metabolites produced by the tree. Because harvesting bark from these trees could harm wild populations, scientists later developed semisynthetic and total-synthesis approaches to produce the drug, starting from related compounds found in yew species. Among the given options, the Pacific yew tree is the correct source of paclitaxel.

Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy drug that was first found in the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia. In the late 1960s, researchers screening plant extracts for anticancer activity isolated this compound from the yew and gave it the name Taxol (now widely known as Paclitaxel). The Pacific yew is a conifer native to the Pacific Northwest, and paclitaxel is one of its secondary metabolites produced by the tree. Because harvesting bark from these trees could harm wild populations, scientists later developed semisynthetic and total-synthesis approaches to produce the drug, starting from related compounds found in yew species. Among the given options, the Pacific yew tree is the correct source of paclitaxel.

More practice questions