Chinese yew is a medicinal plant which has the largest planted area, better economic effects and ecological benefits in our country. People have insufficient appreciation of centuries-old historical document and abundant cultural connotation of Chinese yew, because Chinese yew had no name in ancient times and some expressions of western countries are still cited at present. Therefore, this paper did a great deal of analysis and reference works focusing on synonym and byname of ancient Chinese yew. Excavation and classification of historical documents of Chinese yew from ancient classics and bibliography had been done by studying 3 503 books, about billions of words been recorded in the Si Ku Quan Shu. These researches made up for simple and inadequate contents of many large tool books, like Chinese materia medica and traditional Chinese medicine, and so on. At the same time, in order to change the situation of no name, uncertain channel tropism, irregular functions of Chinese yew, its property and flavor, channel tropism, effects and functions had been summarized. History of the tumor treatment of Chinese yew had been traced back to the time of Tang Dynasty and this was almost 1 200 years earlier than western countries.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Taxus

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Humans ; Myocarditis ; Taxus

The discovery of hydroxylases in the anticancer drug taxol biosynthesis pathway is a hotspot and difficulty in current research. In this study, a new hydroxylase gene TcCYP725A22 (GenBank accession number: MF448646.1) was used to construct a sub-cellular localization vector pCAMIBA1303-TcCYP725A22-EGFP to get the transient expression in onion epidermal cells. Laser confocal microscopy revealed that the protein encoded by this gene was localized in the cell membrane. Furthermore, the recombinant plant expression plasmid pBI121-TcCYP725A22 was constructed. After transient transformation to the Taxus chinensis mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404, qRT-PCR and LC-MS were utilized to analyze the effects of TcCYP725A22 overexpression on the synthesis of taxol. The results showed that, in the TcCYP725A22 overexpressed cell line, expression levels of most defined hydroxylase genes for taxol biosynthesis were increased, and the yield of taxanes were also increased. It was concluded that the hydroxylase gene TcCYP725A22 is likely involved in the biosynthetic pathway of taxol.
Biosynthetic Pathways ; Mixed Function Oxygenases ; Paclitaxel ; Taxoids ; Taxus

OBJECTIVETo study the root microstructure and the distribution of the endophytic fungi in Taxus chinensis var. mairei.

METHODSThe roots of Taxus chinensis var. mairei at nature were cut with paraffin, dyed and observed by microscope.

RESULTSThe secondary structure of the roots of Taxus chinensis var. mairei consisted of the periderm and vascular cylinder (stele). Axial and radial systems formed the secondary xylem of the roots. Tracheids and xylary parenchyma cells constituted the axial system, and xylary radial formed the radial systems. The secondary phloem consisted of sieve cells and phloem parenchymas. Only a small quantity of phloem fibers were distributed in the secondary phloem, and the phloem ray was unconspicuous. Many endophytic mycelia penetrated in the velamina.

CONCLUSIONSThe secondary structure of the root of Taxus chinensis var. mairei accords with that of other gymnosperms and dicotyledons, although its secondary xylem is constituted with tracheids and sieve cells. The endophytic mycelia exists in the local cells of velamina in the roots of Taxus chinensis var. mairei.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite the dramatic reduction in restenosis conferred by drug-eluting stents (DES), restenosis remains a significant problem for real-world patients. Restenosis is a complex phenomenon, and a variety of stent-, drug-, patient- and lesion-related factors have been studied as the determinants of restenosis after DES implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The stent delivery system, the polymer and the drug are integral components of DES, and these are the device-specific factors that can affect restenosis. While the sirolimuseluting Cypher stent appears to provide better outcomes than the paclitaxel-eluting Taxus stent in high-risk patient groups with complex lesions, such differences between the two DES are not apparent in the low-risk groups. Diabetic patients are generally prone to restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention, but there are conflicting findings regarding the impact of diabetes mellitus on restenosis after DES implantation. The post-intervention final lumen area continues to be the most important determinant of restenosis after DES implantation, indicating that a greater stented area contributes to a decreased rate of restenosis even in the DES era. Non-uniform strut distribution and stent fracture also contribute to the development of restenosis after DES implantation. In addition, the risk of restenosis increases linearly according to lesion length, and a "full metal jacket" approach in small vessels is related to a high risk of DES failure. CONCLUSION: Small vessel disease, diffuse disease and the type of DES are important predictors of restenosis after DES implantation. However, predicting restenosis remains difficult, and this indicates the need for further studies in order to ultimately identify those patients who are at high risk for DES failure.
Coronary Restenosis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drug-Eluting Stents* ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Polymers ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Taxus

Paclitaxel was isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia, and used as an anticancer agent. Paclitaxel prevents cancer cell division by inhibiting spindle fiber function, inducing cell death. A recent study demonstrated that paclitaxel binds to myeloid differentiation protein-2 of Toll-like receptor 4 and prevents the signal transduction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Paclitaxel converts immune cells hypo-responsive to LPS. In this study, we investigated whether paclitaxel can inhibit the phenotype and function of immune cells. To accomplish this, we used spleen cells, a major type of immune cell, LPS, a representative inflammatory agent and a mitogen for B lymphocytes. LPS profoundly increased the activation and cytokine production of spleen cells. However, paclitaxel significantly inhibited LPS-induced hyper-activation of spleen cells. Furthermore, we found that paclitaxel induced cell death of LPS-treated spleen cells. These results suggest that paclitaxel can inhibit the hyper-immune response of LPS in spleen cells via a variety of mechanisms. These findings suggest that paclitaxel can be used as a modulating agent for diseases induced by hyper-activation of B lymphocytes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that paclitaxel inhibits the function of spleen cells activated by LPS, and further induces cell death.
B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Death* ; Cell Division ; Paclitaxel* ; Phenotype ; Signal Transduction ; Spleen* ; Taxus ; Toll-Like Receptor 4

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is helpful during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), because it can be used to confirm good apposition or optimal expansion of stents. In this study, we compared angiographic result as well as clinical outcomes between two different strategies of IVUS-guidance, the selective vs. the routine. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 279 patients undergoing electric and emergency intracoronary implatation of TAXUS stent from August 2003 through September 2006. For this study, we divided physicians into two groups; doctors to perform PCI under 'routine' IVUS-guidance vs. PCI under 'selective' IVUS-guidance. Among a total of 279 patients (384 lesions) who underwent PCI with TAXUS stent, 87 patients underwent the procedure under the strategy of 'routine' IVUS-guidance, whereas 192 patients under 'selective' IVUS-guidance. RESULTS: The baseline clinical features of the patients are similar between the two groups. The actual rate of IVUS usage was 89.2% in the routine group and 68.2% in the selective group (p<0.01). A high rate of adjunctive ballooning was determined as a remarkable procedure-related parameter which was comparable between the two groups (72.5% vs. 76.1% in routine vs. selective, p=0.57). The minimal lumen diameter at immediate post-PCI was significantly larger in the routine IVUS group than that in the selective group (2.58 mm vs. 2.48 mm, p=0.03). However, the difference disappeared during the follow-up period (1.98 mm vs. 1.98 mm, p=0.94). Clinical outcomes at 1 year were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: PCI under the strategy of 'selective' IVUS-guidance was comparable to PCI under 'routine' IVUS-guidance in terms of angiographic and clinical outcomes in circumstances with frequent use of adjunctive ballooning after stenting.
Drug-Eluting Stents ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents ; Taxus ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

From the chloroform-soluble fraction of the ethanol extracts of the whole plant of Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Lemee et Lev1), four compounds were isolated by using repeated column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Based on spectroscopic data (UV, IR, ESI-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR), the compounds were identified as taxamairin K (1), 2alpha, 4alpha-dideacetoxy-7beta-benzoyloxy-5beta,20-epoxy-9alpha, 10beta, 13alpha, 15-tetrahydroxy-11(15-->1) abeotaxa-11-ene (2), 7beta-xylosyl-taxol (3), 10-deacetoxy-7-xylosyl-taxol (4). Among them, taxamairin K is a new compound.
Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Taxus ; chemistry

Taxol is one of the most important chemotherapeutic drugs against cancer. Taxol has been mainly extracted from the bark of yews for a long time. However, methods for the extraction of taxol from the bark of Taxus species were inefficient and environmentally costly. As a result of the high ecological toll exacted on trees with the potential for Pacific yew extinction, investigators began to look for other methods of taxol production. Recently, increasing efforts have been made to develop alternative means of taxol production, such as using complete chemical synthesis, semi-synthesis, Taxus spp. plant cell culture and microbe fermentation. Using microbe fermentation in the production of taxol would be a very prospective method for obtaining a large amount of taxol. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the molecular basis and genetic regulation mechanisms of taxol biosynthesis by endophytic fungi, which may be helpful to construct the genetic engineering strain with high taxol output. In this paper, the taxol biosynthesis pathway from Taxus cells and the advantages of taxol biosynthesis by endophytic fungi were discussed. The study on the isolation and biodiversity of taxol-producing endophytic fungi and the taxol biosynthesis related genes are also discussed.
Endophytes ; Fungi ; Industrial Microbiology ; Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Paclitaxel ; biosynthesis ; Taxus ; chemistry

Plants synthesize certain phytoconstituents for their protection, which, because they are not of primary need, are known as secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites of plants, have often been found to have medicinal uses for human beings. One such gymnosperm having secondary metabolites of medicinal potential for humans is Taxus wallichiana (Himalayan yew). Besides being the source of taxol, this plant has been investigated for its essential oil, diterpenoids, lignans, steroids, sterols and biflavonoids. Traditionally, it is used to treat disorders of the digestive, respiratory, nervous and skeletal systems. Although pharmacologically underexplored, it has been used for antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antipyretic, analgesic, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. The present review compiles traditional uses, phytochemical constituents (specifically the secondary metabolites) pharmacological activities and the toxicity of T. wallichiana.
Ethnopharmacology ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Structures ; Plants, Medicinal ; Taxus ; chemistry