A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of genus Saussurea

The genus Saussurea (family Asteraceae) comprises more than 400 species that are widely distributed in alpine and temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. Many species of this genus have been traditionally used in Tibetan, Chinese, and Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In recent years, increasing scientific attention has been directed toward Saussurea species due to their remarkable phytochemical diversity and wide range of medicinal applications. Although several individual research have reported the isolation of bioactive compounds and their biological activities, a comprehensive review summarizing the secondary metabolites of this genus is still lacking. Therefore, the present work provides a consolidated overview of the identified phytochemicals of Saussurea species by compiling and classifying them into their major chemical groups, encompassing sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, lignans, terpenoids, and other phytoconstituents. It correlates chemical structures, compound identities, botanical sources, analytical characterization, and documented therapeutic activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antifungal, antiviral, antihypoxic, anti-lithic, and vasorelaxant activity to establish a unified reference framework for the genus. In addition, the present study summarizes the analytical and quantitative methods employed for the identification of key constituents and critically evaluates the available pharmacological evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and mechanistic studies. Furthermore, it highlights the strengths and limitations of current research, identifies key knowledge gaps covering limited standardization, inadequate in vivo validation, and the scarcity of clinical investigations. Collectively, this article serves as a valuable reference for researchers working on the phytochemistry and therapeutic applications of Saussurea species, while emphasizing the need for further phytochemical and clinical investigations to fully explore their medicinal value.