Pogostemon cablin extract as an anticancer agent on human acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract Pogostemon cablin has been indicated to treat many kinds of diseases and the progression of cancers, such as colorectal cancer. However, the effects of P. cablin extract (PPa extract) against acute myeloid leukemia have not been investigated. Thus, this study explored the anticancer potential of PPa extract and its mechanism in HL‐60 cells. The MTT assay results showed that PPa extract significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL‐60 cells in a dose‐dependent manner and affected cell morphology, causing cell shrinkage and the formation of debris. PPa extract blocked cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner and induced cell apoptosis, as shown by the observation of DNA fragments and apoptotic bodies. Furthermore, PPa extract caused the accumulation of a population of cells at G0/G1 phase via a reduction in p‐Rb, increasing p21 expression, and downregulating cell cycle regulator protein expression. Then, PPa extract was found to activate the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, leading to cell death. These data demonstrated that PPa extract exerted inhibitory activity and triggered cell apoptosis in HL‐60 cells and that PPa extract might be a chemopreventive agent for cancer therapy.