Comprehensive review on Saussurea costus: Exploring Antimicrobial potentials

Abstract

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch., commonly known as Kuth or Costus, is a high-value medicinal plant from the Himalayan region and used traditionally in all forms of traditional medicines like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. This comprehensive review explores the antimicrobial potential of S.costus emphasizing its ethnomedicinal use in traditional practices, its intrinsic phytochemistry, and its pharmacological interpretation. The roots of S. costus contain numerous bioactive compounds, especially sesquiterpenes (costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone), and they have been known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties. A total of thirteen antimicrobial studies is reviewed, covering various extracts of methanol, ethanol, chloroform, aqueous, and essential oils tested against a wide spectrum of bacterial and fungal strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The results of the review reveal significant antimicrobial activity, especially in methanol and chloroform extracts, particularly against multidrug-resistant strains. Thus, the traditional use of Kuth against respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin ailments complies with the scientifically validated antimicrobial effects. This review emphasizes the therapeutic value of S. costus as a potential natural antibiotic and advocates for further clinical validation and pharmacological developments to support its integration into modern therapeutic applications.