Abstract: Dioscin has been reported for its good anticancer activity. Dioscin can induce cell apoptosis by regulating reactive
oxygen species, B-cell lymphoma 2 family proteins and cell cycle, modulating signaling pathways and enzymes involved in
them and stimulating cell differentiation through the mitochondrial pathway and the death receptor pathway, and thus exerts an
anticancer effect. This paper reviews the anticancer mechanism of dioscin with respect to reversal of multi-drug resistance, antiinflammatory
effect, expression of matrix metalloproteinases, effect on epidermal growth factor and inhibition of angiogenesis.
Finally, prospects for the future development and application of dioscin as an anticancer agent are discussed.

Key words: dioscin, anticancer mechanism, natural products