Taxus wallichiana Zucc. (Himalayan Yew): A Medicinal Plant Exhibiting Antibacterial Properties

Abstract

Taxus wallichiana Zucc. or the Himalayan yew is a gymnosperm growing along the Himalayan region of India and adjacent countries. Traditionally, this plant was extensively used by indigenous people for folk medicines for treating various diseases such as fever, headache, diarrhoea, fractures, problems of the nervous system etc. It is also practiced in the Unani system of medicine. The plant is rich in various bio-organic compounds and natural products, such as hydrocarbons, glycosides, flavonoids, phenol, tannins, terpenoids etc. In this research work, an effort has been made to highlight the valuable properties of T. wallichiana. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the secondary metabolites (flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, terpenoids) and antibacterial potential of methanol extracts and the subsequent fractions of the leaves and fruit of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. In order to rationalise traditional use, methanol extracts from the leaves and fruit of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. were tested against five bacteria using the agar well diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin was used as a standard. All extracts and fractions displayed significant anti-microbial effects. Taxus wallichiana leaves and fruit methanolic extracts showed a maximum zone of inhibition with Bacillus subtilis, which is 18 ± 0.0 mm, and Staphylococcus aureus, 19 ± 0.2 mm. The methanolic extracts of the leaves of Taxus wallichiana tested positive for glycosides, flavonoids, phenol, tannins and terpenoids, whereas the T. wallichiana fruit tested positive for flavonoids, saponins and terpenoids. According to the research findings, it was identified that the methanol extract of Taxus wallichiana exhibited quite high anti-microbial activity as well as secondary metabolites, and with this quality, together with lots of its other values, this plant can very well become a source of medicine for the better management of a large number of diseases, including cancer, and value-added products.