Evolution of Paclitaxel: From Natural Product Discovery to Modern Nanomedicine

Author(s)	Dr. Sheenu Priya, Dr. Navik Goyal
Country	India
Abstract	Paclitaxel is one of the most important chemotherapeutic agents developed in oncology. Initially isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia), paclitaxel introduced a novel mechanism of microtubule stabilization and revolutionized cancer treatment. Early development was challenged by poor solubility, limited natural availability, and hypersensitivity reactions associated with solvent-based formulations. Over time, advances in semisynthetic production, nanoparticle formulations, and targeted delivery systems expanded the therapeutic utility of paclitaxel. Nab-paclitaxel, liposomal paclitaxel, and oral preparations represent major milestones in its evolution. Paclitaxel is now widely used in ovarian, breast, lung, pancreatic, cervical, and head-and-neck cancers. Ongoing research focuses on overcoming resistance, reducing toxicity, and combining paclitaxel with immunotherapy and precision medicine approaches.This review summarizes the historical evolution, pharmacological mechanisms, formulation innovations, clinical applications, resistance pathways, and future directions of paclitaxel in oncology.
Keywords	Paclitaxel, Taxol, taxanes, nab-paclitaxel, chemotherapy, nanomedicine, microtubules, cancer therapy
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-20
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87660

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