Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
Chin J Nat Med. 2020 Dec;18(12):890-897. doi: 10.1016/S1875-5364(20)60032-2.
Paclitaxel, a tetracyclic diterpenoid compounds, was firstly isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew trees. Currently, as a low toxicity, high efficiency, and broad-spectrum natural anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel has been widely used against ovarian cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and other cancers. As the matter of fact, natural paclitaxel from Taxus species has been proved to be environmentally unsustainable and economically unfeasible. For this reason, researchers from all over the world are devoted to searching for new ways of obtaining paclitaxel. At present, other methods, including artificial cultivation of Taxus plants, microbial fermentation, chemical synthesis, tissue and cell culture have been sought and developed subsequently. Meanwhile, the biosynthesis of paclitaxel is also an extremely attractive method. Unlike other anti-cancer drugs, paclitaxel has its unique anti-cancer mechanisms. Here, the source, production, and anti-cancer mechanisms of paclitaxel were summarized and reviewed, which can provide theoretical basis and reference for further research on the production, anti-cancer mechanisms and utilization of paclitaxel.
紫杉醇是一种四环二萜类化合物，最初从太平洋紫杉树的树皮中分离得到。目前，作为一种低毒性、高效、广谱的天然抗癌药物，紫杉醇已广泛用于治疗卵巢癌、乳腺癌、子宫癌等癌症。事实上，已证明来自红豆杉属的天然紫杉醇在环境上是不可持续的，在经济上也是不可行的。出于这个原因，来自世界各地的研究人员都致力于寻找获得紫杉醇的新方法。目前，已经寻求和开发了其他方法，包括红豆杉植物的人工栽培、微生物发酵、化学合成、组织和细胞培养。同时，紫杉醇的生物合成也是一种极具吸引力的方法。与其他抗癌药物不同，紫杉醇具有独特的抗癌机制。在这里，总结和回顾了紫杉醇的来源、生产和抗癌机制，这可为进一步研究紫杉醇的生产、抗癌机制和利用提供理论基础和参考。
