Literature review on hepatoprotective effects of diosgenin: possible mechanisms of action

Parvaneh Mohseni-Moghaddam; Manijeh Khanmohammadi; Mehrdad Roghani

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1226548

Literature review on hepatoprotective effects of diosgenin: possible mechanisms of action

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Sep 12:14:1226548. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1226548. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Parvaneh Mohseni-Moghaddam¹, Manijeh Khanmohammadi^{2

3}, Mehrdad Roghani⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
² School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
³ Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Liver diseases are among the major causes of death worldwide. Alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes mellitus, viral infection, and drug-induced liver injury are common risk factors for the development of liver diseases. Diosgenin is a herbal steroidal sapogenin with hepatoprotective properties. This phytosteroid modulates lipid profile and prevents liver injury and fibrosis, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), steatohepatitis, and diabetes mellitus. Different mechanisms have been presented underlying the therapeutic properties of diosgenin. Diosgenin with antioxidant activity and ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory and apoptotic mediators as well as modulating gut microbiota is able to protect the liver. This literature overview summarizes the previously published studies regarding the hepatoprotective function of diosgenin against liver injury in different conditions with an emphasis on possible underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; diosgenin; fatty liver; liver fibrosis; liver injury; steatohepatitis.

Publication types

Review