Question

Mention the reason for the trouble to Himalayan Yew.

Answer 1

Hint: A chemical compound named taxol is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs, and roots of the Himalayan Yew. Taxol is widely used all over the world for the treatment of cancer.

Complete answer:
The Himalayan Yew is a medicinal plant found in the Himalayan region, in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. From the bark, needles, twigs, and roots of a Himalayan Yew, a chemical compound named Taxol is extracted which is used to treat a few types of cancers. The species is, therefore, over-used for manufacturing anti-cancer drugs. The drug found in Himalayan yew is now the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.
The species of Himalayan Yew is, therefore, under great threat due to overexploitation on account of its massive medicinal value. Taxol is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. The drug, also known as Paclitaxel (PTX), is a chemotherapy medication that is used to treat a few types of cancer, including ovarian cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, sarcoma, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Paclitaxel or Taxol belongs to the Taxane family of medication, first isolated in 1971 from the Himalayan yew. It was approved for medicinal uses in 1993.

Note: Taxus wallichiana Zucc, also known as Himalayan yew, belongs to the family Taxaceae. It is a temperate, Himalayan forest tree of great medicinal importance. In India, this evergreen tree is found at altitudes between 1800 and 3300 m above the mean sea level. It is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs, and roots of the Himalayan Yew. Taxol is widely used all over the world for the treatment of cancer. The drug found in Himalayan yew is now the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.