Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of diosgenin on the oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC4 cells. Methods HSC4 cells were divided into four groups: diosgenin 0, 0. 5, 1 and 2 μmol / L. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were assayed by CCK-8, 5-bromo2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) staining, colony formation experiment, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaced caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting. JC-1 was employed to measure the mitochondrial membrane potential. H2DCFDA was used to detect the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). GSH and MDA levels were detected by the kits. Results The cell viability, colony formation ability, BrdU positive cell rate, cell migration and invasion ability, mitochondrial membrane potential, GSH level, and the expression level of Bcl-2 were decreased in the 1 μmol / L and 2 μmol / L diosgenin groups when compared with the 0 μmol / L diosgenin group. The apoptosis rate, the expression levels of Bax and cleaced caspase-3, and the ROS and MDA levels were increased in the 1 μmol / L and 2 μmol / L diosgenin groups when compared with the μmol / L diosgenin group. Conclusion Diosgenin can inhibit the proliferation and motility of HSC4 cells, and induce apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway and ROS production.

Key words: diosgenin, oral squamous cell carcinoma, invasion, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species