Anticancer Properties and Uses of the Compounds Found in Different (Saussurea) Species: A Review

Abstract

This review represents a comprehensive summary of the research progress of the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of the Saussurea genus, focusing specifically on its potential as an anticancer/antitumor agent. Cancer is emerging globally as a crucial disease affecting human health badly. It is also causing a negative impact on world economy. Every year number of deaths due to cancer is increasing and none of the medicines or therapies could cure this disease completely in most of the cases. In our research, we conducted a comprehensive review of the available literature and electronic databases. We searched in prominent resources such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Wiley to gather the necessary data for our study. The genus Saussurea has been a subject of extensive research from both phytochemical and pharmacological perspectives over the years. This though investigation has led to the identification of numerous secondary metabolites exhibiting diverse bioactivities. Saussurea is a rich genus which contains many species with diverse properties. Leaf and flower extracts of plant saussurea obvallata showed good anticancer activities. It contained compound acid methyl ester, linolenic acid and squalene. These compounds also showed good anti-tumour properties. Important anticancer compounds such as doxorubicin, dehydro-costuslactone, cyanaropicrin are also isolated from saussurea costus which showed good activity against colon and liver cancer. Another compound arctigenin is obtained from saussurea heteromalla which showed good activity against Hela cells. These anticancer compounds from different saussurea species are mentioned with their mechanism and cell lines. This study will open doors of research on these compounds which are known and more compounds which are still hidden in these species could be found out. These anticancer compounds could be further worked upon until these are officially marketed and used as anticancer drugs in different therapies and regimens.