Lab-based multiplication of rare plant to help cancer treatment

      Vietnamese scientists have successfully bred Thong do (red pine), known as Taxus Wallichiana Zucc, with the purpose of extracting Taxol, a precious material used in cancer drug.
The success not only helped to protect the original gene of the precious tree which is listed in the world’s Red Book as a species facing extinction, but also opened up the possibility of producing anti-cancer drugs in Vietnam.
However, not all red pine trees contain the valuable extract. Scientists had to take samples from all perennial red pines they found in the forests of the Central Highlands Lam Dong province.
They then collected buds from the trees that were found to contain Taxol for multiplication.
After two years of study, scientists from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industries and the Lam Dong Silviculture Research Centre finally saw their red pine buds growing into trees in test-tubes. Some of these trees have been planted in the natural environment.
Red pines, which are believed to be around for 1,000-1,800 years, only became known as a valuable remedy in 1993 when US scientists extracted Taxol.
Vietnamese scientists then also began their search, which revealed that only a small number of red pine trees growing in Lam Dong province can provide Taxol.
At present, as the price of one kg of Taxol is about one million US dollars and the supply is short, a project to grow red pines on a large scale is expected to bring high profit to Vietnam.
The successful breeding of red pines in test-tubes has attracted special attention from foreign scientists and businesses alike.
The Vietnam Cancer Association is coordinating with a business to work out a project to plan 50 ha of red pines in Lam Dong province with the hope of producing cheaper anti-cancer drugs in the country.