costunolide

Costunolide is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone found in various plants, notably *Saussurea lappa* and lettuce. It exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities demonstrated in preclinical studies, including **anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-allergic, bone remodeling, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, and hair growth promoting properties**. Its mechanisms include induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, suppression of key inflammatory mediators, and interference with multiple intracellular targets such as telomerase, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), cyclins/cyclin-dependent kinases, and Akt kinase. Costunolide also blocks the differentiation of osteoclasts, inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and the VEGF pathway, and modulates oxidative and immune responses. It is widely researched as a bioactive lead compound in natural product and medicinal chemistry, but is not approved as a pharmaceutical agent[1][3][4][5].

Other names

(+)-costunolidecostunolidcostus lactonegermacra-1(10),4,11(13)-trien-12-oic acid 6α-hydroxy- γ-lactonecostundidecosinolactonecostunoidecustunolidecostulide(3aS,6E,10E,11aR)-6,10-dimethyl-3-methylene-3a,4,5,8,9,11a-hexahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-2(3H)-one