Abstract:

This article reviewed the classification, distribution, main chemical constituents and their biological activities of genus Taxus, rare medicinal plants, and also discussed the research status, problems in the exploitation and potential solutions. Taxus was composed of 11 species (including one artificial hybrid species) mainly distributing in the Northern Hemisphere. More than 500 chemical compounds have been identified from the genus and can be sorted into 3 types (Taxane derivatives like Baccatin Ⅲ, flavonoids and polysaccharides). These compounds have much important pharmacological activity such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, elimination of free radicals, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular system regulation, and anti-aging. However there exist some problems in utilization of the important plant resources, such as, decreases in the species genetic diversity and the biological resources, conflict between regional distribution of the species and diversity of the chemical compounds, and disjointedness of the basic theory of Taxus with the technique applications. This article suggested that the problems might be solved through these strategies, such as, building up the germplasma resources stocks of Taxus, introducing and taming species at national level, constructing the technology system for the standardization production of the high quality raw material, and the modern technology platform for the high efficiency utilization of Taxus resources.

Key words: Taxus, germplasma resources, standard production, new pharmacological properties