Sago or shortly after the inflorescence appears. The stems, which grow 10 to 15 metres high), are split out. The starch-containing pith is taken from the stems and ground to powder. The powder is kneaded in water over a cloth or sieve to release the starch. The water with the starch passes into a trough where the starch settles. After a few washings, the starch is ready to be used in cooking. A single palm yields about 800 pounds (360 kilograms) of dry starch. The sago palm, "Metroxylon sagu", is found in tropical lowland forest and freshwater swamps across Southeast Asia
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.