Guttiferone E (GE) is a prenylated benzophenone derivative and a diastereoisomer of garcinol and a double bond isomer of xanthochymol, firstly isolated from Garcinia species plants. The Garcinia species plants, which are used in folk medicine across Southeast Asian countries, contain a rich source of secondary metabolites, including xanthones, flavonoids, benzophenones, triterpenes and, particularly, the polyprenylated benzophenones. Due to the structural side chains in the isomeric forms, in most cases, the isomers guttiferone E and xanthochymol have been considered as an inseparable mixture. By this reason, there is no information about biological activities of Guttiferone E as a single compound.

Minoxidil, a trichogenic compound that stimulates the hair follicle, is a pro-drug converted to its active form, minoxidil sulfate, by sulfotransferase enzymes in the outer root sheath of hair. Minoxidil sulfate is required for both the promotion of hair regrowth and the vasodilatory effects of minoxidil. Minoxidil sulfate is an activator of the ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel. The opening of K+ channels is thought to be an important mechanism in the regulation of hair follicles.

Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) is a neuroactive steroid. Neurosteroids represent a class of endogenous steroids that are synthesized in the brain, the adrenals, and the gonads. It potentiates synaptic GABAA-receptor function. THDOC is extremely potent positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors with sedative, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant properties. THDOC can regulate gene expression via the progesterone receptor. The induction of DNA-binding and transcriptional activation of the progesterone receptor requires intracellular oxidation of the neurosteroids into progesterone receptor-active 5 alpha-pregnane steroid. THDOC is involved in the pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome, catamenial epilepsy, major depression, and stress-sensitive brain disorders.

Bufalin is a traditional oriental medicines, originally isolated from the Chinese toad venom. Bufalin is a cardiotonic steroid that has the potential to induce differentiation and apoptosis of tumor cells. Research on bufalin has so far mainly involved leukemia, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and liver cancer, and has been confined to in vitro studies. The bufadienolides bufalin and cinobufagin have been shown to induce apoptosis in a wide spectrum of cancer cell. Bufalin has being shown to be a potent small-molecule inhibitor of the steroid receptor coactivators SRC-3 and SRC-1. Bufalin is a component of Huachansu, a Chinese medicine that comes from dried toad venom from the skin glands of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor or B.melanotictus Schneider, has been used in the treatment of various cancers in China.

Nonactin is the parent compound of macrotetrolides, a group of ionophore antibiotics produced by Streptomyces griseus. The antibacterial effects of nonactin depend upon its ability to form stable complexes with K+, Na+ or NH4 + ions and for it to support the passive diffusion of these ions across cell membranes. Nonactin has been shown to possess antitumor activity and to be an effective inhibitor of the P170-glycoprotein responsible for drug resistance in multiple drug-resistant cancer cell lines. Mitochondrial uncoupler nonactin induces apoptosis selectively in beta-catenin mutant tumor cells.

Destomycin A is an aminoglycoside antibiotic and is reported to have antibacterial and anthelmintic activity. It has an antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. The mode of action of destomycin A is the inhibition of polypeptide synthesis in cells of Escherichia coli and stimulation of adenylate cyclase in several animal tissues. Destomycin A is added to feed for pigs and chickens to prevent parasitic infection of Ascaris suum (the mechanism of action involves inhibition of vitelline coat formation of the parasite eggs.)

Corosolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene acid isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa. It inhibits STAT3 and VEGFR2 signaling and has cytotoxic effect on a number of tumor cell lines. Corosolic acid has demonstrated anti-diabetic effect in vivo, probably due to facilitation of GLUT4 translocation or AMPK activation.