Methyl protodioscin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 liver cancer cells

Methyl protodioscin (NSC-698790) is one of the main bioactive components in the traditional Chinese medicine Dioscorea collettii var. hypoglauca (Dioscoreaceae). In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of methyl protodioscin on the HepG2 cells and the mechanism of the induced cytotoxicity. Treatment of methyl protodioscin resulted in G2/M arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells. These effects were attributed to down-regulation of Cyclin B1 and the signaling pathways leading to up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of BCL2, suggesting that methyl protodioscin may be a novel anti-mitotic agent.