Diosgenin a steroidal compound: An emerging way to cancer management

Prajya Arya1, Pradyuman Kumar1

  • 1Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal, India.

Insights

Fenugreek

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Natural Products Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer research increasingly explores food ingredients with low toxicity.
  • Spices offer bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties.
  • Fenugreek contains diosgenin, a compound with demonstrated cancer-preventive and curative effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of diosgenin from fenugreek in cancer prevention and treatment.
  • To explore diosgenin's mechanisms in suppressing cancer and inducing apoptosis.
  • To examine diosgenin's impact on cellular receptors and pathways involved in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on diosgenin and cancer.
  • Analysis of diosgenin's effects on cellular receptors (p38, p53, mTOR, Akt, PARP).
  • Examination of diosgenin's role in apoptosis via caspase pathways.

Main Results:

  • Diosgenin suppresses cancer progression by altering cellular mechanisms and receptors.
  • Diosgenin induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in various cancer cell lines.
  • Diosgenin shows therapeutic potential in lung, breast, prostate, liver, and colon cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Diosgenin is a promising bioactive compound from fenugreek for cancer therapy.
  • Diosgenin modulates cellular signaling and apoptosis pathways to combat cancer.
  • Further research into diosgenin offers new avenues for pharmaceutical and medical cancer treatments.

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