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Literature has shown that diosgenin, a naturally occurring sapogenin, inducedcytotoxic effects in many cancer models. This study investigated the effect of diosgenin on intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i) and cytotoxicity in PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Diosgenin (250-1000 μM) caused [Ca 2+ ]i rises which was reduced by Ca 2+ removal. Treatment with thapsigargin eliminated diosgenin-induced [Ca 2+ ]i increases. In contrast, incubation with diosgeninabolished thapsigargin-caused [Ca 2+ ]i increases. Suppression of phospholipase C with U73122 eliminated diosgenin-caused [Ca 2+ ]i increases. Diosgenin evoked Mn 2+ influx suggesting that diosgenin induced Ca 2+ entry. Diosgenininduced Ca 2+ influx was suppressed by PMA, GF109203X, and nifedipine, econazole, or SKF96365. Diosgenin (250-600 μM) concentration-dependently decreased cell viability. However, diosgenin-induced cytotoxicity was not reversed by chelation of cytosolic Ca 2+ with BAPTA/AM. Together, diosgenin evoked [Ca 2+ ]i increases via Ca 2+release and Ca 2+ influx, and caused Ca 2+ -non-associated deathin PC3 cells. These findings reveal a newtherapeutic potential of diosgenin for human prostate cancer.

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