Endophytes for the production of anticancer drug, paclitaxel

One of the most effective antitumor drugs is the Taxol (paclitaxel), a diterpenoid compound initially sequestered from the Pacific yew tree bark extract in the middle of 1960s. With a distinctive mode of action, paclitaxel is effective against several types of cancers, and hence there is an increasing demand for its worldwide supply. It is difficult to meet the present market requisite using existing industrial production approaches for the drug, i.e., total chemical synthesis and semi-synthesis by extracting paclitaxel precursors from the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) tree species. Therefore, other methods have been meticulously explored, and one such encouraging strategy is the use of endophytic fungi. In this chapter, sources of endophytic fungi, their association with host plants, and their influence in producing the anticancer compound, paclitaxel, from their host plants are discussed. Also, paclitaxel-producing endophytic fungi and their possible scientific exploration are explained in detail.