title: Pharmacognostic studies on Taxus baccata L.: A brilliant source of Anti-cancer agents.
abstract: The present investigation was undertaken to establish standardization profile of Taxus baccata L. with the help of pharmacognostic parameters, which is not done before. T. baccata(Taxaceae), is native to Europe, is an evergreen needle-leaved tree, growing up to 28 m high. A large number of phytochemicals like taxoids viz. taxusin, baccatin, baccatin, lignans, flavanoids, steroids, paclitaxel and sugar derivatives have been isolated from it. For the treatment of different types of cancer like ovarian and breast cancers, Kaposi's sarcoma and lung cancers Paclitaxel (taxol) has been approved. Paclitaxel is also under clinical trial for remedy of number of other cancers in combination with other chemotherapeutic medications. Pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical screening of T. baccata will be useful to authenticate and avoid adulteration in the raw material. The diagnostic microscopic characters, physiochemical data and FTIR will be useful in the development of monograph.
authors.affiliation: AK International, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asif
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghazala H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Rizwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zahid
authors.affiliation: Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zahid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: AK International, Dubai, UAE.
authors.forename: Rao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qasim
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008853:Microscopy; D010598:Pharmacognosy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D020946:Taxus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts