Question

Consider the following statements :

1. The Taxus tree naturally found in the Himalayas.
2. The Taxus tree is listed in the Red Data Book.
3.  A drug called "taxol" is obtained from the Taxus tree is effective against Parkinson's disease.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 1 and 2 only

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

• Taxus wallichiana:
  • The species of Taxus tree that is native to the Himalayas is known as Taxus wallichiana.
  • Taxus wallichiana Zucc., or Himalayan yew, belongs to the family Taxaceae and is found in India as an evergreen tree in the temperate Himalayas at altitudes between 1800 and 3300 m and in the hills of Meghalaya and Manipur at an altitude of 1500 m. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • The species is listed in the category of 'endangered species of the Red Data Book published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • It received wide attention recently because its leaves and bark were found to be the prime source of taxol, a potent anticancer drug that has the unique property of preventing the growth of cancerous cells and is used in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers. Hence statement 3 is Not correct.
  • Taxol was first isolated from the bark of Taxus brevifolia, and since then, taxol and related bioactive taxoids have been reported from various other species of the genus Taxus.

• It is an evergreen coniferous tree found in a wide range of habitats, growing in montane, temperate, warm temperate, and tropical submontane to high montane forests which may be deciduous, evergreen, or of mixed character.
• Apart from the Himalayas, the tree is also naturally found in some parts of south-east Asia.
• Since the tree offers various benefits like medicine, fuelwood, etc., it is heavily exploited for its leaves and bark across most of its range through the Himalayas and western China. Its conservation is of paramount importance and hence it is now present in several protected areas.