The induction of apoptosis by a newly synthesized diosgenyl saponin through the suppression of estrogen receptor-α in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Estrogen receptor (ER)-α is an important therapeutic target in the clinical treatment of breast cancer. A potential down-regulator of ER-α, diosgenyl α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside is a newly synthesized diosgenyl saponin named compound 22. This study evaluated the in vitro mechanism of compound 22 as an anticancer agent for breast cancer.

Total synthesis of methyl protodioscin: a potent agent with antitumor activity.

Methyl protodioscin (1), otherwise known as 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-d-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-22-methoxy-25(R)-furost-5-ene-3 beta,26-diol, has been synthesized for the first time from diosgenin through nine steps in an overall yield of 7.8%.