Helvolic acid is a mycotoxin with antibacterial activity that shows broad activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria. For example Helvolic acid showed potent inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of 5.8 and 4.6ug/mL, respectively. It is a steroidal triterpene that is an inhibitor of the protein biosynthesis through archeal EF-2 (elongation factor 2). Shows antioxidant effects. Helvolic acid also showed in vitro antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. It showed inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Plasmodium falciparum.

Totarol is a meroterpene, and more precisely a terpenophenolic, a chemical compound that is part terpene and part natural phenol. It is a naturally produced diterpene that is bioactive as (+)-totarol. It was first isolated by McDowell and Esterfield from the heartwood of Podocarpus totara, a yew tree found in New Zealand. Totarol showed good activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv (MIC of 73.7 uM). It was also most active against the isoniazid-, streptomycin-, and moxifloxacin-resistant variants (MIC of 38.4, 83.4 and 60 uM, respectively). Totarol demonstrated nematicidal and antifouling activities against Caenorhabditis elegans and Artemia salina, it inhibited Leishmania donovani promastigotes, showed good antimicrobial activity against effluxing strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Totarol inhibits bacterial proliferation by targeting FtsZ and it may be useful as a lead compound to develop an effective antitubercular drug.