Quantification of Tissue-Specific Paclitaxel in Himalayan Yew Using HPTLC-Densitometric Analysis, Assessment of Toxicological Activity, and Tissue-Specific Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

Taxus wallichiana Zucc., commonly known as the Himalayan Yew, is currently experiencing endangerment due to excessive harvesting and sluggish growth resulting from the extraction of paclitaxel, a crucial plant-derived medication employed in the treatment of cancer. T. wallichiana contains various phytochemicals, including paclitaxel, a diterpenoid that has been utilized as an anticancer medication. In order to extract paclitaxel while maintaining the species’ survival, it is difficult to determine the most effective plant parts. We determined the diterpenoid paclitaxel content using modern analytical methods such as high-performance thin-layer chromatography-densitometric analysis. Furthermore, toxicological evaluations were carried out and tissue-specific antioxidant activity was statistically analyzed using 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Folin–Ciocâlteu (FC), and 2,2-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The results of our study offer significant contributions to the identification of optimal plant components for the extraction of paclitaxel. This information is crucial in the conservation of T. wallichiana and in mitigating the difficulties associated with its threatened classification. The present investigation makes a valuable contribution toward the advancement of sustainable methodologies in the manufacturing of paclitaxel, as well as the preservation of T. wallichiana for posterity. Bark exhibited the maximum paclitaxel yield at a content of 29162.3 μg/g dry weight. The accuracy of the method has been validated in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH). The current investigation evaluated the potential cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the aqueous extracts on meristematic cells from the roots of Allium cepa . The extracts obtained from the bark exhibited noteworthy cytotoxic and mitotic characteristics. The current investigation holds potential significance for the pharmaceutical sector in terms of identifying superior chemotypes of T. wallichiana that produce high levels of paclitaxel. Conducting a toxicological assessment on various tissues of T. wallichiana chemotypes through employment of the Allium cepa test would facilitate the identification of any potential genotoxic characteristics. The present study aimed to investigate four distinct assays, namely, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and FC, for the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of diverse T. wallichiana plant extracts and standard substances. The findings suggest that FRAP and ABTS exhibit a strong correlation. In general, the entirety of the tissue extract exhibited commendable antioxidant capacity, thereby rendering it a promising contender for diverse applications.