来源于苦蒿、山药和玉竹等植物的甾体皂苷二醇地塞米松在治疗口腔鳞状细胞癌、喉癌、食管癌、肝癌、胃癌、肺癌、宫颈癌、前列腺癌、胶质母细胞瘤和白血病等多种癌症中展现出高潜力和研究兴趣。本文旨在对甾体皂苷二醇在体内、体外和临床研究中抗癌效果的综述进行介绍。临床前研究表明了甾体皂苷二醇在抑制肿瘤细胞增殖和生长、促进凋亡、诱导分化和自噬、抑制肿瘤细胞转移和侵袭、阻塞细胞周期、调节免疫和改善肠道菌群等方面展现出了有希望的效果。临床研究揭示了甾体皂苷二醇的临床剂量和安全性质。此外，为了提高甾体皂苷二醇的生物活性和生物利用度，本文重点关注了甾体皂苷二醇纳米药物载体、联合药物和甾体皂苷二醇衍生物的开发。然而，需要进一步设计试验来揭示甾体皂苷二醇在临床应用中的缺陷。© 2023 年中国中西医结合杂志出版社和德国斯普林格出版集团，斯普林格自然出版集团的一部分。

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, obtained from Trigonella foenum-graecum, Dioscorea, and Rhizoma polgonati, has shown high potential and interest in the treatment of various cancers such as oral squamous cell carcinoma, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, glioma, and leukemia. This article aims to provide an overview of the in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies reporting the diosgenin's anticancer effects. Preclinical studies have shown promising effects of diosgenin on inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and growth, promoting apoptosis, inducing differentiation and autophagy, inhibiting tumor cell metastasis and invasion, blocking cell cycle, regulating immunity and improving gut microbiome. Clinical investigations have revealed clinical dosage and safety property of diosgenin. Furthermore, in order to improve the biological activity and bioavailability of diosgenin, this review focuses on the development of diosgenin nano drug carriers, combined drugs and the diosgenin derivatives. However, further designed trials are needed to unravel the diosgenin's deficiencies in clinical application.© 2023. The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.