Dioscin: A diverse acting natural compound with therapeutic potential in metabolic diseases, cancer, inflammation and infections

Currently, the numbers of patients with cancer, fibrosis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, stroke and osteoporosis are increasing fast and fast. It's critical necessary to discovery lead compounds for new drug development. Dioscin, one active compound in some medicinal plants, has anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, hypolipidemic, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-allergic effects. In recent years, dioscin has reached more and more attention with its potent effects to treat liver, kidney, brain, stomach and intestine damages, and metabolic diseases including diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, hyperuricemia as well as its anti-cancer activities through adjusting multiple targets and multiple signals. Therefore, dioscin is a promising multi-target candidate to treat various diseases. This review paper summarized the progress on pharmacological activities and mechanisms of dioscin, which may provide useful data for development and exploration of this natural product in the further.