Two saponins, methyl protodioscin and dioscin, were extracted from the root of Polygonatum Zanlanscianense Pamp. One of them, dioscin exerted significant inhibitory effects on the growth of the human leukemia cell HL-60, inducing differentiation and apoptosis. HL60 cells were induced mainly along the granulocytic lineage. In addition, we have found that dioscin affects many cancer cells. These studies may have important significance in treating related cancers.
