Objective To explore the role of rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide in proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer PC ⁃ 3 cells by studying vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）/protein kinase B （Akt）signal pathway. Methods PC⁃3 cells in logarithmic growth phase were divided into blank group and low⁃， medium⁃ and high⁃dose groups，rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharides of 0，20，40，or 60 μmol/L were added to culture. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibition rate of PC ⁃ 3 cell proliferation. The invasion ability of PC ⁃ 3 cells was detected by Transwell invasion assay. The apoptosis rate of PC ⁃ 3 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The protein expression of VEGF/Akt signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. Results With an increase in rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide concentration，the inhibition rate of PC⁃3 cell proliferation increased gradually in a time⁃dependent way（P < 0.05）；the number of penetrating cells in PC⁃3 cells decreased gradually and the apoptosis rate increased gradually，vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2（VEGFR2），phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3⁃kinase（p ⁃PI3K）and phosphorylated p ⁃Akt protein were gradually down ⁃ regulated in a concentration⁃dependent manner（P < 0.05）. Conclusions Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide can inhibit prolif⁃ eration and invasion of prostate cancer PC ⁃3 cells and promote PC ⁃3 apoptosis，which may result from inhibiting VEGF/Akt signaling pathway.