Impact and mechanism study of dioscin on biological characteristics of colorectal cancer cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a considerable global health issue. Dioscin, a compound found in several medicinal plants, has shown potential anticancer effects.

AIM

To find the relationship between CRC cells (HCT116) and diosgenin and clarified their mechanisms of action.

METHODS

CRC cell line HCT116 was cultured by dividing cells into control and dioscin groups (dioscin + Jagged 1 group; Jagged 1 group, 5 μg/mL; and dioscin group, 2.5 μg/mL). The dioscin groups were given different concentrations of dioscin. Cell Counting Kit-8 was chosen for testing cell viability in different groups. Flow cytometry was established to undiscover the apoptosis rate of human liver cancer cell line 11. Real-time PCR as well as Western blot analyses were applied to reveal the expression levels of caspase-3, Notch, and other proteins. Transwell and scratch experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and invasion abilities.

RESULTS

This study indicated that dioscin restricted the growth of HCT116 cells, boosted cell apoptosis, and rose the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the expression of Caspase-3. Dioscin also inhibited physiological activities, for instance cell migration, and significantly reduced the expression levels of proteins for instance Notch1 (P < 0.05). Dioscin partially reversed the effects of Jagged 1.

CONCLUSION

Dioscin exerts a certain inhibitory effect on HCT116, and its mechanism of action may be linked, with the inhibition of the Notch1 signaling pathway.

Keywords: Dioscin; Colorectal cancer; Notch1; Cell apoptosis; Cell proliferation

Core Tip: This study investigates the anticancer effects of dioscin on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells (HCT116). Our findings reveal that dioscin inhibits cell viability, promotes apoptosis, and suppresses migration and invasion by modulating the Notch1 signaling pathway. These results highlight the potential of dioscin as a therapeutic agent against CRC.