Puerarin leads to K562 cell apoptosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia via induction of autophagy.

PURPOSE: To study the effects of puerarin on the viability, apoptosis and autophagy of K562 cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and to provide a basis for the study on antitumor mechanism of puerarin.

METHODS: K562 cells of human CML were taken as the study material and puerarin was applied in different concentrations. The effect of puerarin on cell viability was detected via cholecystokinin-8 (CCK8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Flow cytometry and western blot (WB) were used to detect cell apoptosis, while Cyto-ID and WB were used to detect the cell autophagy level.

RESULTS: Puerarin inhibited the K562 cell viability and increased cell apoptosis and autophagy in a dose-dependent manner. After 3-methyladenine (3-MA) autophagy inhibitor was used, puerarin's induction of cell autophagy was inhibited, and its apoptosis induction was also inhibited.

CONCLUSIONS: Puerarin increases the cell apoptosis through induction of autophagic apoptosis of K562 cells.