Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy medication used to treat various types of cancer, including ovarian, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer. It is a natural product derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia. Paclitaxel works by inhibiting the growth and spread of cancer cells by interfering with the normal function of microtubules, which are necessary for cell division. By disrupting microtubule function, paclitaxel prevents cancer cells from dividing and replicating, ultimately leading to their death. Paclitaxel is administered intravenously and is usually given in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. It can cause side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and low blood cell counts. However, these side effects are often temporary and can be managed with supportive care. Despite its side effects, paclitaxel has been shown to be an effective treatment for many types of cancer, and has helped to improve the survival rates of cancer patients.

1. GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY (An Autonomous Institute)
TOPIC :CHEMISTRY AND ANTI CANCER ACTIVITY OF PACLITAXEL.
NAME OF THE STUDENT: MD JAVED
ROLL NO:186112201008
ACADEMIC SESSION: 2022-2024
PAPER NAME: Chemistry of Natural
Product.
PAPER CODE:MPT 1034
Affiliated to MaulanaAbul KalamAzad University of Technology

2. CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Structure
3. Derivatives of paclitaxel
4. Mechanism
5. Chemistry of paclitaxel
6. Summary
7. Reference

3. INTRODUCTION
• It is isolated from the bark of Taxus brevifolia.
• It was discovered by Monroe E.Wall and Mansukh wani.
• Paclitaxel belongs to class of chemotherapy drug called plant alkaloid.
• It is used as an anticancer drug.
• It interferes with the growth of microtubules.(1)
• BRAND NAMES: Abraxane,Taxone
• GENERIC NAMES: Paclitaxel
• CHEMICAL FORMULA: C47H51NO14

4. STRUCTURE

5. DERIVATES OF PACLITAXEL
DOCETAXEL- Treatment of breast cancer.
ORTATAXEL- Treatment of lung cancer, lymphoma and kidney cancer.(2)
LAROTAXEL- Treatment of Pancreatic cancer.
TESETAXEL- Orally administered Taxane.
DOCETAXEL ORTATAXEL TESETAXEL

6. MECHANISM OF ACTION
 Target microtubule.
 Microtubule are required for maintenance of cell structure, motility and cytoplasmic
movement within cell.
 In simple words Paclitaxel stops cancer cells from separating into 2 new cell.
 This blocks the growth of cancer.(2)

7. CHEMISTRY OF PACLITAXEL
• The nomenclature of paclitaxel is structured on 17 atom skeleton tetracyclic.
• There are total 11 stereo center.(3)

8. SUMMARY
• Paclitaxel is most widely used antineoplastic agent with broad activity in several
cancer.
• In 1992 paclitaxel was approved by US-FDA for treatment of ovarian cancer.
• Paclitaxel alone s used for treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer.
• The abundance of paclitaxel is low in original bark of yew tree so the prices are high.
• Side effects are not so severe like vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in joints and legs.

9. REFERENCE
1.D Sriram, P Yogeeswari, “Medicinal Chemistry”, pp 2-4, 2018.
2. Fu Y, Li S, Zu Y, Yang G, Yang Z, Luo M, Jiang S, Wink M, Efferth T. Medicinal
chemistry of paclitaxel and its analogues. Curr Med Chem. 2009;16(30):3966-85.
doi: 10.2174/092986709789352277. PMID: 19747129.
3. N J Fauzee, “Taxanes: promising anticancer drugs”, Asian Pac J Cancer prev. Vol
12(4), pp 837-851, 2011.