Objective: To investigate whether hederagenin (HG) could inhibit the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Method: MTT was used to determine the proliferation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced colorectal cancer cells SW480 with different doses of HG treating for 24 h. Transwell assay was used to determine the inhibitory effects of HG on cell invasion in SW480 cells. Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) assay were used to observe the expressions of EMT markers such as E-cadherin

N-cadherin

Vimentin

Snail

and invasion and metastasis markers such as signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3

matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9

reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motif (RECK) and MMP-14. Result: Here we found that HG inhibited the proliferation of SW480 cells which induced by TGF-β1

influenced EMT and reduced the invasion ability. Furthermore

HG reduced the expressions of EMT markers including N-cadherin

Vimentin

Snail and invasion and metastasis markers including STAT-3

MMP-9

MMP-14

enhanced the expressions of E-cadherin and RECK (P<0.05). Conclusion: HG inhibited the invasion and metastasis of SW480 cells by influencing EMT pathway.