Introduction Taxus wallichiana Zucc. (Himalayan Yew) has a remarkable history of medicinal uses in contrast to the other yews. In this critical review, we focused our discussion on the anal- gesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-convulsant, anti- pyretic and anti-cancer activity of T. wallichiana. Conclusion The isolated lignans from T. walli - chiana display many biological activi- ties that include high activity as anal- gesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-convulsant, anti- pyretic and anti-cancer agents. Further studies are recommended to identify the mode of action of these lignans, allowing us to understand its possible role in human physiology. layas to Philippines. It is found growing in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philip- pines and Vietnam. This plant is used traditionally for the treatment of high fever and painful inflammatory conditions. The leaves of this plant are used to make herbal tea for indigestion and epilepsy. Previously published litera- tures on T. wallichiana have reported immunomodulatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-convulsant activities 2,3 . In India, extracts from its bark and leaves are used in Unani medicine as a source of the drug Zarnab, prescribed as a sedative, aphrodisiac and as a treatment for bronchitis, asthma, epilepsy, snake bites and scorpion stings 4 . In Ayurvedic medicine, young shoots are used to prepare a medicinal tincture for the treatment of headache, diarrhoea and bilious- ness. The leaves are also used for the treatment of hysteria, epilepsy and nervousness. Its bark and leaves are considered to possess anti-fertility properties. It has also been used in steam baths to treat rheumatism 5 . A paste made from the bark is used to treat fractures and headaches. The inhabitants of the buffer zone villages of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in India collect the Taxus bark and leaves, mainly for traditional teas and for curing colds and coughs, a practice also commonly seen in other rural areas 6 . Extracts from this tree are also used in medicinal hair oils. In Pakistan, a decoction of the stem is used as a treatment against tuberculosis 7 . In this present critical review, we have discussed some important medicinal properties of T. wallichiana. Discussion Analgesic and anti-infl ammatory activities