From Taxus to paclitaxel: Opportunities and challenges for urban agriculture to promote human health

Conifers of the genus Taxus are environmentally friendly plants with significant medicinal and ecological value, contributing to the enhancement of urban living environments. Paclitaxel, a compound found in Taxus , has garnered particular research interest owing to its potent anti-cancer effects. However, traditional methods of extracting paclitaxel from Taxus are not only inefficient, but also destructive and unsustainable, posing the major risk of Taxus extinction. To address this, sustainable production using modern biotechnology is crucial for the mass production of paclitaxel. Therefore, this review revisits the potential of Taxus and sustainable paclitaxel production in the context of urban agriculture. It provides a comprehensive review of widespread research efforts targeting efficient and cost-effective paclitaxel biosynthesis. We also discuss a set of innovative strategies for paclitaxel biosynthesis and suggest approaches for its industrial production based on Taxus cell-based approaches. • Taxus is an environmentally friendly tree genus with medicinal and ecological value • Paclitaxel has garnered much attention owing to its potent anti-cancer effects • Important progress has been made in the biosynthesis of heterologous paclitaxel • Biotechnological strategies may improve the de novo synthesis of paclitaxel • Research efforts should target efficient and cost-effective paclitaxel biosynthesis