Saussurea Lappa (Kuth Root/Costus), an Endangered Medicinal Plant: A Critical Review of its Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Therapeutic Potential, and Conservation Challenges

Saussurea lappa (C. B. Clarke) is an endangered perennial herb also known as Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipschitz. It belongs to the family Asteraceae and is well known and widely used in Ayurvedic, Unani, Chinese, and Tibetan systems of medicine. In India, it is commonly known as “Kuth” and has been therapeutically used in various ailments such as inflammatory conditions, gastrointestinal disturbances, neurological complaints, and reproductive disorders. Its root is a pharmacologically potent raw drug and contains a wide range of bioactive phytochemicals. Extensive research has established its pharmacological effects which include antioxidant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and gastroprotective activities. Unfortunately, the species faces severe threats of extinction because of overexploitation, unregulated trade, and habitat destruction, resulting in its inclusion in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The article highlights its therapeutic significance by bridging ethnomedicine with modern pharmacology and underscores the urgent need for conservation and clinical research on this endangered Himalayan treasure. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement was considered to conduct this review. The objective was to make a critical and comprehensive overview of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, therapeutic potential, and conservation issues of Saussurea lappa . For this purpose, literature published was searched systematically in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. This study revealed that Saussurea lappa has antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other therapeutic potential. Conservation of this Himalayan treasure needs to be conserved before its extinction.