Description
Protodioscin is a saponin originally found in the rhizomes of several species of Dioscorea. Protodioscin exhibits cardioprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anticancer activities. Protodioscin increases activities of the Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase, protecting cardiomyocytes under anoxic conditions mimicking ischemic injury. In animal models, protodioscin decreases levels of triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol and increases levels of HDL in serum. In various cancer cell lines, metabolites of this compound exhibit anti-proliferative activity. Additionally, protodioscin downregulates levels of Bcl-2 and cyclin B1 and upregulates levels of Bax, inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.