Β-boswellic acid (β-BA) is one of the active triterpenoid compounds from the extract of boswellia serrate, known in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine as Salai guggal. Beta-boswellic acid has been indicated in apoptosis of cancer cells. β-boswellic acid belonds to class of boswellic acids exhibiting anti-inflammatory activities, which are in the phase II clinical trial for study of safety and tolerability in subjects with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Nocardamine is a cyclic trihydroxamate. It belongs to a group of microbial siderophores which form complexes with iron and aluminum ions. Nocardamine was described first as an antibiotic active against mycobacteria and proteus. It is produced by Nocardia species, several Streptomyces species, Chromobacterium and Pseudomonas. Nocardamine exhibited significant antioxidant effects. It is suggested that it should be applied in food and biological model systems. In vitro nocardamine showed antitumor activity – it has inhibitory effects to colony formation of tumor cells.

Gardenin B is naturally occurring flavonoid isolated from Baccharis scandens, that shows potent anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines. Although the exact target and binding sites of gardenin B have not yet been determined, the introduction of additional methyl groups could facilitate penetration through the cell membrane and increase the cytotoxicity in vitro. Cell cycle analysis performed in HL-60 cells showed that inhibition of cell viability by gardenin B was caused by a significant cell cycle arrest at the S and G2-M phases and accompanied by an increase in sub-G1 fraction and phosphatidylserine externalization, indicating apoptotic cell death. This methoxyflavonoid promotes the formation of apoptotic bodies and the internucleosomal degradation of DNA, resulting in the formation and eventual release of oligonucleosomal DNA fragments. Apoptosis induced by gardenin B is associated with activation of both the extrinsic and the intrinsic apoptotic pathways of cell death and occurs through a mechanism that is independent of the generation of reactive oxygen species.

9,10-PHENANTHRENEDIONE (9,10-Phenanthrenequinone) is a quinone and a useful fluorescent compound. It is a TRPA1 activator. Inhalation of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ), a major quinone in diesel exhaust, exerts fatal damage against a variety of cells involved in respiratory function. Exposure to 9,10-phenanthrenequinone accelerates malignant progression of lung cancer cells through up-regulation of aldo-keto reductase 1B10.

Flavaspidic acid AB (FA-AB) is a compound isolated from Dryopteris crassirhizoma Nakai, a semi-evergreen fern which is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Flavaspidic acid AB was able to inhibit viral RNA replication in vitro. However, it did not directly inhibit the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, but Flavaspidic acid AB could indirectly inhibit the reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus replication by regulating some antiviral cytokines. The physiological and toxicological properties of this compound have not been evaluated in humans.

Beauvericin is a famous mycotoxin produced by many fungi, such as Beaveria bassiana and Fusarium spp. Beauvericin is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide (Figure 1) that belongs to the enniatin antibiotic family. It contains three D-hydroxyisovaleryl and three N-methylphenylalanyl residues in an alternating sequence. Beauvericin was first isolated from Beaveria bassiana, which is a common and commercial entomopathogenic mycoinsecticide. Beauvericin was one of the active constituents of B. bassiana and was confirmed to have antimicrobial and anti-tumor activities. Beauvericin has a strong antibacterial activity against human, animal and plant pathogenic bacteria with no selectively between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity of beauvericin to human tumor cells has been frequently reported.

Cafestol is a diterpene molecule found in coffee beans and has anticarcinogenic properties. Cafestol, a bioactive substance in coffee, increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro and increases glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle cells. Cafestol possesses antidiabetic properties in KKAy mice. Consequently, cafestol may contribute to the reduced risk of developing T2D in coffee consumers and has a potential role as an antidiabetic drug.

Perlonguminine is an alkaloid amide isolated from species of the genus Piper, a plant used in traditional medicine that demonstrates antifungal, anticancer, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Perlonguminine selectively targets a wide spectrum of cancer cells and induce cancer cell death by initiating various pathways, such as apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. The elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), characteristic of oxidative stress, is an important mechanism by which Perlonguminine promotes cancer-selective cell death. However, the poor aqueous solubility of Perlonguminine is a serious concern for intensive investigations and clinical application.

Norspermidine (1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane or dipropylenetriamine) is a structural homologue of the natural polyamine spermidine. Norspermidine and its metal complexes exert antineoplastic properties. Dipropylenetriamine NONOate is used as a donor of nitric oxide.

Rubusoside is a natural sweetener and a solubilizing agent with antiangiogenic and antiallergic properties. Rubusoside (Rub) is a natural sweetener from the Chinese sweet tea plant (Rubus suavissimus) and closely related to glucosides found in stevia leaf (Stevia rebaudiana). Teas made from the leaves of Rubus suavissimus have been shown to be associated with caloric restriction to aid in the weight loss by obese individuals. Rubusoside is an excellent solubilizing agent. It can enhance the solubility of a number of pharmaceutically important compounds, such as liquiritin, teniposide, curcumin, and etoposide. Rubusoside inhibits hexose transport by GLUT5 and GLUT1.