Costunolide: A Bioactive Sesquiterpene Lactone with Diverse Therapeutic Potential

The document from 2019 reviews the diverse therapeutic potential of costunolide, a sesquiterpene lactone with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, bone remodeling, neuroprotective, hair growth promoting, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. It acts through various signaling pathways and molecular targets, including kinases, transcription factors, and proinflammatory mediators. Costunolide has shown promise in neuroprotection, antimicrobial activity, and particularly in promoting hair growth by inhibiting 5α-reductase activity, which is relevant for alopecia treatment. It also exhibits anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, as well as antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties. Furthermore, costunolide has demonstrated antidiabetic effects in animal models. While pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted, more research is needed to understand its full potential, safety, and toxicity for drug development. The document does not specify the number of people in the studies as it primarily reviews preclinical research.