Taxus, a genus of conifers known for its medicinal significance, faces various conservation challenges with several species classified under different threat categories by the IUCN. The overharvesting of bark and leaves for the well-known chemotherapy drug paclitaxel has resulted in its population decline. Exploring the mycorrhizal relationship in Taxus is of utmost importance, as mycorrhizal fungi play pivotal roles in nutrition, growth, and ecological resilience. Taxus predominantly associates with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM), and reports suggest ectomycorrhizal (EM) or dual mycorrhizal associations as well. This review consolidates existing literature on mycorrhizal associations in Taxus species, focusing on structural, physiological, and molecular aspects. AM associations are well-documented in Taxus, influencing plant physiology and propagation. Conversely, EM associations remain relatively understudied, with limited evidence suggesting their occurrence. The review highlights the importance of further research to elucidate dual mycorrhizal associations in Taxus, emphasizing the need for detailed structural and physiological examinations to understand their impact on growth and survival.

Taxus, also known as \"gold in plants\" because of the famous agents with emphases on Taxol and Docetaxel, is a genus of the family Taxaceae, distributed almost around the world. The plants hold an important place in traditional medicine in China, and its products are used for treating treat dysuria, swelling and pain, diabetes, and irregular menstruation in women. In order to make a further study and better application of Taxus plants for the future, cited references from between 1958 and 2022 were collected from the Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), SciFinder, and Google Scholar, and the chemical structures, distribution, and bioactivity of flavonoids identified from Taxus samples were summed up in the research. So far, 59 flavonoids in total with different skeletons were identified from Taxus plants, presenting special characteristics of compound distribution. These compounds have been reported to display significant antibacterial, antiaging, anti-Alzheimer\'s, antidiabetes, anticancer, antidepressant, antileishmaniasis, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antiallergic, antivirus, antilipase, neuronal protective, and hepatic-protective activities, as well as promotion of melanogenesis. Flavonoids represent a good example of the utilization of the Taxus species. In the future, further pharmacological and clinical experiments for flavonoids could be accomplished to promote the preparation of relative drugs.

Ingestion of leaves of the European yew tree (Taxus baccata) can result in fatal cardiac arrhythmias and acute cardiogenic shock. This cardiotoxicity derives from taxine alkaloids that block cardiac voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels. Prompt initiation of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is essential to bridge these critically ill patients to recovery, as there is no antidote available. We here report a 39-year old patient with toxic cardiogenic shock after yew poisoning, who was successfully rescued by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and had a full neurological recovery. This report emphasizes the role of intoxications as reversible causes of cardiac arrest and adds further evidence to the body of existing literature thus encouraging the early use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with yew poisoning and cardiogenic shock.

Taxol®, which is also known as paclitaxel, is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat different cancers. Since the discovery of its antitumoral activity, Taxol® has been used to treat over one million patients, making it one of the most widely employed antitumoral drugs. Taxol® was the first microtubule targeting agent described in the literature, with its main mechanism of action consisting of the disruption of microtubule dynamics, thus inducing mitotic arrest and cell death. However, secondary mechanisms for achieving apoptosis have also been demonstrated. Despite its wide use, Taxol® has certain disadvantages. The main challenges facing Taxol® are the need to find an environmentally sustainable production method based on the use of microorganisms, increase its bioavailability without exerting adverse effects on the health of patients and minimize the resistance presented by a high percentage of cells treated with paclitaxel. This review details, in a succinct manner, the main aspects of this important drug, from its discovery to the present day. We highlight the main challenges that must be faced in the coming years, in order to increase the effectiveness of Taxol® as an anticancer agent.

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.