Taxol, an anti-neoplastic agent is a potent,natural anticancer product which is derived from the Pacific Yew tree. Many Cancer Institutions are calling it 'the best anti-cancer agent in the last fifteen years'. The molecule was discovered in a screening process initiated by the American Cancer Institute and in 1971, the structure was elucidated by Wani and Wall. The single crystal X-ray structure obtained by Wani and Wall revealed Taxol as a tetracyclic, highly oxygenated diterpene (figure 1):-

It wasn't until 1979 when Taxol's unique mode of activity was discovered (Horwitz et al ). By this time Taxol had shown to exhibit anticancer activity and the race was on to develop Taxol as a chemotherapy agent.

Phase I clinical trials began in 1983 with Taxol and later with a taxol analogue called Taxotere. Due to the low yield of Taxol in nature and the unsustainable supply of Taxol from the Yew tree, research intensified in the total synthesis of Taxol. Nicolaou et al. and Holton et al. published a total synthesis, virtually concurrently in early 1994, but no commercially viable synthesis of Taxol has been published.

Clinical trials have shown remarkable activity against resistant cases of advanced ovarian and breast cancer. Hopefully in the near future a Taxol / Taxol analogue will be commercially available as a potent anticancer agent in the never ending battle against natures unpredictable and undesired actions!!!!

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