Costunolide CAS 553-21-9 Germacranolide Sesquiterpene Lactone from Saussurea lappa
Product Identification
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Costunolide; (3aR,4S,6aR,9S,9aR,9bS)-4,9-dimethyl-3-methylenedecahydroazuleno[4,5-b]furan-2,5-dione (germacranolide) |
| CAS RN | 553-21-9 |
| Molecular Formula | C₁₅H₂₀O₂ |
| MW | 232.32 |
| Botanical (commercial) | Saussurea lappaC.B. Clarke (Mu-Xiang, Yunnan/Sichuan cultivated); Inula heleniumL. (Tu-Mu-Xiang) |
| Botanical (CITES-restricted) | Saussurea costus– App II, not Taima bulk |
| HS Code (ref) | 1302 / 2938 |
| Sibling (same plant) | Dehydrocostus lactone (co-peak in P.E., C₁₅H₁₈O₂, CAS 477-43-0) |
| Downstream (biosynth) | Parthenolide CAS 20554-84-1 (Feverfew) — Costunolide → Parthenolide pathway |
Description
Costunolide is a germacranolide-type sesquiterpene lactone bearing the signature α-methylene-γ-lactone warhead (Michael acceptor) — same reactive motif as Parthenolide, but Costunolide is the earlier, less-oxygenated precursor (no furan epoxide ring that Parthenolide has). Literature activity: STAT3 inhibition, NF-κB (IKK), HSP90-client protein destabilization — same pathway cluster as Parthenolide but generally ~3–10× weaker in cell assays (fewer H-bond/electrophile handles). This positions Costunolide as:
- TCM bulk upstream (cheaper than Parthenolide, same plant family “Saussurea/Inula” TCM heritage)
- R&D probe / SAR tool (Costunolide → Parthenolide semisynthesis route in literature; also “germacranolide SAR” papers compare Costunolide / Parthenolide / Artemisinin family)
Applications
TCM – Mu-Xiang / Digestive Wellness – Saussurea lappaP.E. dual-peak (Costunolide + Dehydrocostus) 0.5%–3% HPLC; TCM “move Qi, relieve pain, SP-strengthen”; CN-export formulas; Inula heleniumEU-traditional (cough/expectorant). DTC EN: “traditional digestive wellness”— avoid “treat GI disease / IBS” (Rx boundary, TCM heritage soft only)
Anticancer / STAT3 / NF-κB R&D – Costunolide ≥98% probe; STAT3 dimerization / NF-κB p65 / HSP90 lit; “sesquiterpene lactone R&D” cluster with Parthenolide 20554-84-1 + Quercetin 117-39-5 + Artemisinin 63968-64-9 inner-link
Cosmetic Soothing (extract grade) – S. lappa/ I. heleniumP.E. low % in KR/JP “bitter-herb soothing” clean-beauty; inner-link to Luteolin/Feverfew/Lupeol/Ectoine/Glabridin cosmetic cluster
Reference Standard (≥98%) – for Saussurea/InulaP.E. QC (dual-peak HPLC), SAR / semisynthesis Route (Costunolide → Parthenolide) R&D
Source Option – S. lappa(Yunnan, cultivated, TCM) vs. I. helenium(EU-cultivated, also TCM-DE) — both non-CITES; S. costusCITES II avoided