Foresight on Phytoconstituents and Associated Pharmacological Activities of Traditional Medicinal Plant: Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipschitz

Purpose of Review The plant species Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch (S. costus) belongs to the Asteraceae family and is well noticed for its wide range of therapeutic applications. This species is classified as critically endangered, and hence, efforts have been made to delve deep into the empirical investigation of its phytoconstitutents and a wide range of pharmacological potentials of the plant. Recent Findings Extraction and fractionation of this medicinal plant emphasized the presence of lignans, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, lactones, etc. Other constituents include linoleic, palmitic, costic acids, and β-sitosterol. Sesquiterpenes are the major phytoconstituents which includes costunolide, α-cyclocostunolide, β-cyclocostunolide, iso-zaluzanin-C, dehydrocostuslactone, isodehydrocostus lactone, alantolactone, isoalantolactone, guaianolide, etc. Earlier studies on different extracts demonstrated that S. costus have different pharmacological activities. Researchers highlighted sesquiterpenes from S. costus are responsible for its anticancer activity against breast, liver, colon, prostatic, ovarian, leukemias, gastric, bladder, and lung. Summary Our present review has summarized its specific phytochemical composition and pharmacological activities like anticancer, antibacterial, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-rheumatism, and to make awareness about its therapeutic importance. Future investigations on isolation and characterization of the active compounds can provide a remarkable lead in herbal drug medicine as a convincing solution, also as a powerful alternative choice of drug in near future for mankind. In addition, strong policies and research are required to protect from the threshold of destruction.