Diosgenin, a natural steroidal
saponin, has been reported to be found predominantly in fenugreek and has diverse
biological properties.
N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) is a mammary gland-specific
carcinogen that closely mimics human
breast cancer in many aspects. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticarcinogenic property of
diosgenin with reference to lipid peroxidation, status of
antioxidants, and activities of marker
enzymes against NMU-induced experimental mammary
carcinogenesis.
Breast cancer was induced in female Sprague Dawley rats by an intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of NMU (a concentration of 50 mg/kg
body weight) diluted in
0.9% saline, and the rats were treated with oral
diosgenin, 20 mg/kg
body weight, for 45 days. The results were interesting, and the
diosgenin treatment remarkably downregulated the peroxidation reaction and marker
enzymes and extraordinarily enhanced the indigenous
antioxidant defense system. The factor for this remarkable restoration might be due to the effect of the intervention strategy on the downregulation of the peroxidation reaction through the strong
antioxidant nature, which ultimately reflected in the downregulation of marker
enzyme activities. The histopathological study of breast and liver tissues inevitably confirms the biochemical changes. Thus, it can be concluded that
diosgenin exhibits anticarcinogenic activity via reducing peroxidation reaction and marker
enzymes through enhancing the intrinsic
antioxidant defense system.