Sago climbing habit; the leaves are pinnate. Each palm trunk produces a single inflorescence at its tip at the end of its life. Sago palms are harvested at the age of 7–15 years, just before or shortly after the inflorescence appears and when the stems are full of starch stored for use in reproduction. One palm can yield 150–300 kg of starch. Sago is extracted from "Metroxylon" palms by splitting the stem lengthwise and removing the pith which is then crushed and kneaded to release the starch before being washed and strained to extract the starch from the fibrous residue. The
Plant sources of anti-cancer agents podophyllotoxin which is found in "Podophyllum peltatum" (May Apple). Chemicals extracted from clippings of "Taxus brevifolia" (Pacific yew) have been used as the basis for two chemotherapy drugs, docetaxel and paclitaxel. Contains ingenol mebutate (Picato) which is used to treat skin cancer Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) is an antibody conjugated to a synthetic derivative of the cytotoxic principle of the Ethiopian plant "Maytenus ovatus". It used to treat breast cancer. Plant sources of anti-cancer agents Plant sources of anti-cancer agents are plants, the derivatives of which have been shown to be usable for the treatment or prevention of cancer in humans.