Scholarlink

Purpose <p>The review aims to comprehensively examine the anticancer potential of diosgenin, a natural steroidal sapogenin, in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It highlights the underlying mechanisms of action, discusses diosgenin’s limitations in bioavailability, and evaluates nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems designed to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.</p> Methods <p>This review was conducted through a structured and comprehensive literature screening process to ensure thorough coverage of relevant studies. Publications were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using keywords such as “diosgenin,” “hepatocellular carcinoma,” “liver cancer,” “nanocarrier,” “drug delivery,” and “phytochemicals” applied individually and in various combinations. The search encompassed articles published between 2000 and 2025, with priority given to peer-reviewed English-language studies. Out of more than 300 records initially identified, approximately 125 studies met the inclusion criteria addressing diosgenin’s pharmacodynamics, molecular mechanisms, and nanotechnology-based delivery systems.</p> Results <p>Diosgenin exerts anti-HCC effects through multiple pathways including PI3K/Akt, NF-κB/STAT3, MAPK, and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling. While its low solubility and poor bioavailability limit clinical application, nanocarriers have significantly improved drug stability, sustained release, and targeted tumor delivery. Among them, niosomes and carbon nanotubes showed notable efficacy, with diosgenin-loaded niosomes reducing HepG2 cell viability, and carbon nanotubes demonstrating synergistic tumor inhibition when co-loaded with ferulic acid. Diosgenin-based liposomes also enhanced the effect of doxorubicin, increasing apoptosis and reducing tumor burden in vivo.</p> Conclusion <p>Diosgenin represents a promising multi-targeted agent for liver cancer therapy, especially when combined with advanced drug delivery systems. These diosgenin loaded nanocarriers overcome pharmacokinetic limitations and significantly improve therapeutic outcomes through enhanced tumor targeting and synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic agents. However, successful clinical translation requires addressing key regulatory, ethical, and manufacturing challenges, including standardization of nanocarrier formulations, large-scale reproducibility, and long-term safety evaluation. Overall, diosgenin-based nanocarriers show promising potential for clinical translation, offering safer and more targeted therapeutic options for HCC.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Therapeutic potential of diosgenin in hepatocellular carcinoma through molecular mechanisms and nanodelivery strategies

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月16日

查看全文
  • Charmi Jyotishi,
  • Mansi Patel,
  • Suresh Prajapati,
  • Reeshu Gupta

摘要

Purpose

The review aims to comprehensively examine the anticancer potential of diosgenin, a natural steroidal sapogenin, in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It highlights the underlying mechanisms of action, discusses diosgenin’s limitations in bioavailability, and evaluates nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems designed to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

Methods

This review was conducted through a structured and comprehensive literature screening process to ensure thorough coverage of relevant studies. Publications were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using keywords such as “diosgenin,” “hepatocellular carcinoma,” “liver cancer,” “nanocarrier,” “drug delivery,” and “phytochemicals” applied individually and in various combinations. The search encompassed articles published between 2000 and 2025, with priority given to peer-reviewed English-language studies. Out of more than 300 records initially identified, approximately 125 studies met the inclusion criteria addressing diosgenin’s pharmacodynamics, molecular mechanisms, and nanotechnology-based delivery systems.

Results

Diosgenin exerts anti-HCC effects through multiple pathways including PI3K/Akt, NF-κB/STAT3, MAPK, and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling. While its low solubility and poor bioavailability limit clinical application, nanocarriers have significantly improved drug stability, sustained release, and targeted tumor delivery. Among them, niosomes and carbon nanotubes showed notable efficacy, with diosgenin-loaded niosomes reducing HepG2 cell viability, and carbon nanotubes demonstrating synergistic tumor inhibition when co-loaded with ferulic acid. Diosgenin-based liposomes also enhanced the effect of doxorubicin, increasing apoptosis and reducing tumor burden in vivo.

Conclusion

Diosgenin represents a promising multi-targeted agent for liver cancer therapy, especially when combined with advanced drug delivery systems. These diosgenin loaded nanocarriers overcome pharmacokinetic limitations and significantly improve therapeutic outcomes through enhanced tumor targeting and synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic agents. However, successful clinical translation requires addressing key regulatory, ethical, and manufacturing challenges, including standardization of nanocarrier formulations, large-scale reproducibility, and long-term safety evaluation. Overall, diosgenin-based nanocarriers show promising potential for clinical translation, offering safer and more targeted therapeutic options for HCC.