Effect of active fraction of Eriocaulon sieboldianum on human leukemia K562 cells via proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction

•We identified the most anticancer fraction of E. sieboldianum.•E3 could effectively inhibit Aurora kinase and block cell cycle of K562 cells.•E3 could induce apoptosis of K562 cells via p53 dependent pathway.•E3 could induce apoptosis of K562 cells via mitochondria apoptosis pathway.•This study could raise the application value of E. sieboldianum in cancer therapy.