Objective:To investigate the effects of platycodon D on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and glycolysis of colorectal cancer HT-29 cell.Methods:Human HT-29 cells were selected and randomly divided into the control group and platycodon D 25, 50, and 100 μmol/L groups. The HT-29 cells in the platycodon D 25, 50, and 100 μmol/L groups were treated with 25, 50, and 100 μmol/L platycodon D for 48 h. The cell proliferation of the cells was examined by cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assay. The apoptosis of the cells was investigated using flow cytometry and Western Blot assays were used to examine the expression of apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins, including B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved cystein-asparate protease-3 (cleaved Caspase-3). Transwell and Western Blot assays were used to examine cell migration, glucose consumption, and lactic acid production, as well as the expression levels of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and phosphorylated PKM2 (p-PKM2) in HT-29 cells.Results:With the increase in treatment time, the proliferation rate of HT-29 cells in the control group and platycodon D 25, 50, and 100 μmol/L groups decreased gradually. Compared with the control group, the viability of HT-29 cells in the platycodon D 25, 50, and 100 μmol/L groups was decreased (all P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the colony number of HT-29 cells in the platycodon D 25 μmol/L (36 vs. 50), 50 μmol/L (34 vs. 50), and 100 μmol/L (16 vs. 50) groups was decreased (all P < 0.001), after treatment with platycodon D for 24 h. Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate of HT-29 cells in the platycodon D 100 μmol/L group was increased (62% vs. 39%), the relative expression of Bax was increased (0.9 vs. 0.1), the cleaved Caspase-3 was increased (1.25 vs. 0.15), and the Bcl-2 decreased (0.12 vs. 0.75) (all P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the per unit vision number of HT-29 cells in the platycodon D 100 μmol/L group decreased (16 vs. 48), the relative expression of Snail decreased (0.5 vs. 1.3), the relative expression of E-cadherin increased (1.2 vs. 0.1), the relative expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) decreased (0.2 vs. 1.1), the relative expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) decreased (0.2 vs. 1.2), and the relative expression of hexokinase 2 (HK2) decreased (0.15 vs. 1.00) (all P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, glucose consumption of HT-29 cells in platycodon D 100 μmol/L group was decreased (1.9 mmol/L vs. 4.8 mmol/L), and lactic acid production was decreased (3.8 mmol/L vs. 9.2 mmol/L) (both P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the relative expression of PKM2 in the platycodon D 100 μmol/L group was decreased (0.1 vs. 1.0), and the relative level of p-PKM2 was decreased (0.08 vs. 0.75) (both P < 0.001). Conclusions:Platycodon D can inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 cells, promote cell apoptosis, and inhibit cell migration and glycolysis.