CTSD and cervical carcinoma: Concurrently, emodin can enhance HeLa cervical cancer cell lysosomal membrane permeability, decreasing cathepsin D (CTSD) and cathepsin L (CTSL) activities and increased cytoplasm concentrations and leakage of lysosomal hydrolases into the cytoplasm, resulting in activation of caspases and inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis (107).