Anticancer Activity of Diosgenin and Its Molecular Mechanism

Abstract

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, obtained from Trigonella foenum-graecum, Dioscorea , and Rhizoma polgonati , has shown high potential and interest in the treatment of various cancers such as oral squamous cell carcinoma, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, glioma, and leukemia. This article aims to provide an overview of the in vivo, in vitro , and clinical studies reporting the diosgenin’s anticancer effects. Preclinical studies have shown promising effects of diosgenin on inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and growth, promoting apoptosis, inducing differentiation and autophagy, inhibiting tumor cell metastasis and invasion, blocking cell cycle, regulating immunity and improving gut microbiome. Clinical investigations have revealed clinical dosage and safety property of diosgenin. Furthermore, in order to improve the biological activity and bioavailability of diosgenin, this review focuses on the development of diosgenin nano drug carriers, combined drugs and the diosgenin derivatives. However, further designed trials are needed to unravel the diosgenin’s deficiencies in clinical application. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s11655-023-3693-1.

The Functional Characterization of DzCYP72A12-4 Related to Diosgenin Biosynthesis and Drought Adaptability in Dioscorea zingiberensis

“…Of the various sapogenins, diosgenin could be prized because of its suitable structure and abundant source capable of meeting industrial scale demand [28]. Recently, many studies have found that diosgenin itself has therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases, such as cancers [29], inflammatory and metabolic diseases [30], diabetes [5], hypolipidemia [31], atherosclerosis [32] and cardiac diseases [33]. With the increasing use of diosgenin in the pharmaceutical industry and therapeutic treatment, the demand for diosgenin is increasing rapidly.…”

Unleashed Treasures of Solanaceae: Mechanistic Insights into Phytochemicals with Therapeutic Potential for Combatting Human Diseases

“…This modulation involves the manipulation of EMT-associated proteins like transforming growth factor β1, E-cadherin, and vimentin. Diosgenin also triggers apoptosis in A549 cells through its impact on proteins within the MAPK signal pathway, including caspase 8, 9, and 3 [ 83 ]. Diosgenin downregulates the MAPK, NF-κB, and Akt signaling pathways by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65, JNK, IKK-β, Akt, and ERK, resulting in its anti-tumor effect.…”

An Overview of the Spices Used for the Prevention and Potential Treatment of Gastric Cancer

“…Diosgenin, a major sapogenin found in fenugreek seed, has shown high potential and interest in the treatment of various cancers such as GC [211]. Previous studies have shown that diosgenin has effects that inhibit mesoderm posterior 1 (MESP1) expression, leading to suppressed proliferation of GC cells via inducing alternative reading frame (ARF) expression.…”