ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF DIOSGENIN ON LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES INDUCED RAW 264.7 CELLS

Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin compound, and possesses multiple biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunological regulation, and anti-aging. The current study focused on its anti-inflammatory activities and cytotoxicity by analysis of NO production, phagocytosis activity, secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 and cell viability in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. An IC50 value of diosgenin of 2.8 μM was calculated for diosgenin by regression of cell viability from concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 25 μM; this indicated that 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 μM diosgenin could reduce phagocytic activity very significantly (p<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner with no cytotoxic effect on the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. However, there was no significant effect on NO content and secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 after diosgenin treatment. The research revealed that low concentrations diosgenin can directly inhibit cells phagocytosis, with no effect on the release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines. This lays a foundation for screening for a safe dose in research and developent of derivatives and new formulation of diosgenin for its anti-inflammatory effect.