Saussurea costus (Indian costus)

Indian costus, scientifically known as Saussurea costus (synonym Saussurea lappa), is a perennial medicinal herb native to the Himalayan region and widely utilized in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is not a single molecular target but a complex natural product containing bioactive sesquiterpene lactones, most notably costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone. These compounds exert broad-spectrum antiparasitic effects against various helminths (e.g., Schistosoma, Fasciola) and protozoa (e.g., Leishmania) by targeting essential cellular processes, including redox homeostasis and structural protein integrity (Zahara et al., 2014). Specifically, they act as Michael acceptors that covalently bind to cysteine residues, leading to the inhibition of transcription factors like NF-kappaB and STAT3, the disruption of microtubule polymerization, and the depletion of intracellular glutathione. Beyond its antiparasitic utility, Indian costus is researched for its anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and hepatoprotective properties. However, its clinical application is significantly hindered by the frequent contamination of commercial products with toxic aristolochic acids, which are known to cause severe kidney damage and cancer (WebMD; Pandey et al., 2007).

Other names

Saussurea lappaAucklandia costusKuthQust al-HindiCostus rootIndian costus

The active sesquiterpene lactones in Indian costus, such as costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone, act as Michael acceptors that covalently bind to the cysteine sulfhydryl groups of various proteins. This alkylation leads to the inhibition of key signaling pathways, including NF-kappaB and STAT3, the disruption of microtubule polymerization, and the induction of oxidative stress through the depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) (Lin et al., 2015; Kim et al., 2019). In parasites, these actions result in tegumental damage, metabolic inhibition, and eventual death of the organism (Zahara et al., 2014).