Antiproliferative effects of fractions of furostanol and spirostanol glycosides from yam (dioscorea pseudojaponica yamamoto) and diosgenin on cancer and normal cells and their apoptotic effects for MCF-7 cells

Antiproliferative effects of fractions of furostanol glycosides (FUG) and spirostanol glycosides (SPG) from yam (Dioscorea pseudojaponica Yamamoto) and diosgenin on cancer (MCF-7, A 549 and Hep G2) and normal (HS68 and Clone 9) cells, and their apoptotic effects for MCF-7 cells were estimated. All samples exhibited cytotoxic effects not only for cancer cells but also for normal cells. The results were also compared to the cancer chemotherapy drugs, 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate. SPG had the highest effect followed by diosgenin and FUG. Proliferation of MCF-7 cells could be suppressed by these samples via G0/G1 arrest, and led them to apoptosis by activation of p53 and down-regulation of Akt and breast cancer type 1 expressions.