Demissidine was isolated from several potato species including Solanum demissum, Solanum acaule and Solanum tuberosum. Demissidine was synthesized from the related steroidal alkaloid dihydrotomatidine. Demissidine is an alkaloid that inhibits the growth of human colon and liver cancer cells in culture, though less actively than glycoalkaloid dehydrocommersonine. Demissidine is a growth inhibitor of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Solasonine, a known glycoalkaloid, is a potential anti-cancer agent. Solasonine is a component of Curaderm BEC5 indicated for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma, basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous superficial squamous cell carcinoma. BEC is a standardized mixture of Solamargine (33%), Solasonine (33%) and di-and monoglycosides of solasodine (34%) extracted from S. sodomaeum, now reclassified as S. linnaeanum. Solasonine could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and colony formation of glioma cells. Treatment of solasonine induced apoptosis via modulating cytochrome c and caspase signaling. Besides, solasonine decreased the expression of proinflammatory mediators and nuclear translocalization of NF-κB p50/p65. Mechanistic investigation further revealed that solasonine may target anti-inflammatory signaling pathway, and more specifically p-p38 and p-JNK MAPKs.