HH1-1, a novel Galectin-3 inhibitor, exerts anti-pancreatic cancer activity by blocking Galectin-3/EGFR/AKT/FOXO3 signaling pathway.

•An arabinogalactan HH1-1 derived from safflower has anti-pancreatic cancer activity.•HH1-1 could bind to Galectin-3 and inhibit Galectin-3 expression.•HH1-1 reduced the interaction between Galectin-3 and EGFR for 245.28 folds.•HH1-1 influenced cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration and invasion.•HH1-1 affected the Galectin-3/EGFR/AKT/FOXO3 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.