eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2026-03-30 23 1 51 59 10.13005/bbra/3480 58634 article Harshada Haridas Pandit 1 Kishor Otari 1 Ajay Kale 1 Department of Pharmacology, Navsahyadri Institute of Pharmacy, Pune, India Ovarian cancer is among the deadliest gynecological cancer, primarily largely attributed to delayed clinical detection, significant metastatic abilities, coupled with reduced responsiveness to chemotherapy. These challenges have sparked interest in bioactive compounds derived from plants as potentially safer and more effective treatments. Diosgenin and dioscin, both steroidal saponins sourced mainly from Dioscorea species, have shown promise as anticancer agents with diverse mechanisms of action. Existing experimental studies assessing the anticancer potential of diosgenin and dioscin in ovarian cancer are outlined, with focus on their biological effects and underlying mechanisms. Studies conducted in vitro and in vivo indicate that diosgenin can inhibit the growth, migratory activity, and invasive capacity of ovarian cancer cells while promoting programmed cell death and cell cycle arrest by modulating essential molecular pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, PTEN, NF-κB, and Bcl-2 family proteins. Likewise, dioscin demonstrates notable anticancer effects mediated through the induction of apoptosis and autophagy, reducing metastasis, reversing multidrug resistance, and improving chemosensitivity. Advances in nanocarrier delivery systems have also enhanced the bioavailability and effectiveness of these compounds. Despite the promising experimental results, clinical validation is still lacking. Overall, diosgenin and dioscin are promising natural options for ovarian cancer treatment, highlighting the need for additional studies on their mechanisms and clinical trials to support their development as viable anticancer therapies. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol23no1/anticancer-potential-of-dioscorea-villosa-derived-diosgenin-in-pa-1-ovarian-cancer-cells-mechanistic-insights-into-apoptosis-and-pi3k-akt-signaling/ Apoptosis; Diosgenin; Ovarian cancer; PI3K/Akt signaling pathway; Steroidal saponins