Yew in Herbal Medicine: Properties of the Yew

Scientific name

Taxus baccata

Family

Taxaceae

Origin

Europe, North America

Parts Used

Drug consisting of the bark and leaves.

Chemical constituents

• Flavonoids;
• Polysaccharides;
• Steroids;
• Genetic cyano glucosides;
• Taxol, triterpenoid alkloid;
• Lignans.

Yew in Herbal Medicine: Properties of the Yew

Yew is a substantially toxic plant. However, the taxol (or taxol) present in it is used in medicine as an anticancer drug.
This active principle has entered the international protocols for the chemotherapy of some forms of breast and ovarian carcinoma.
Most likely, taxol is better known as paclitaxel.