Illustration of a taxol molecule. Taxol was first isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) and is now made synthetically. Taxol is an anti-cancer drug which stabilises microtubules in cells, disrupting their disassembly. This action results in chromosomes being unable to achieve a metaphase spindle configuration disrupting the progression of cell division (mitosis). Taxol can also prevent the microtubule detachment from centrosomes, a process normally activated during mitosis. Taxol is used to treat ovarian, breast and non-small cell lung cancer. Atoms are represented as spheres: carbon (green), oxygen (red) and nitrogen (blue).