Sarasinoside A1 is a triterpenoid saponin identified as a potent invasion inhibitor that reverses mesenchymal tumor transformation. It induces re-epithelialization of aggressive, E-cadherin-negative cells by rapidly relocalizing nonepithelial cadherins and junction-associated proteins like β-catenin and ZO-1 to cell-cell contact sites, forming functional junctions within hours without requiring new gene expression. This process narrows intercellular spaces and stabilizes nectin-based adhesion complexes, accompanied by increased activation of Rap GTPases. A key research application is in studying the restoration of cell-cell adhesion and cohesion in 3D culture models, providing a tool to explore phenotypic reversion independent of E-cadherin.

Sarasinoside-A1