Brassinolide ((22R,23R,24S)-2a,3a,22,23-tetrahydroxy- 24-methyl-B-homo-7-oxa-5a-cholestan-6-one) is a plant growth hormone that has been implicated in Auxin Signaling. In vitro and field experiments have shown that application of Brassinolide and Brassinolide analogs produces protection against phytopathogens and stress conditions, as well as higher production of biomass, which resulted in an increase in the quality and yield of different crops, such as legumes, cereals, and fruits. Since Brassinolide and its congeners are natural products, and abundant in the vegetable kingdom, they are not excluded from the usual diet of all living organisms, and therefore do not constitute an 'unnatural' additive. These facts make this family of compounds a potential environmental friendly helper to agricultural production. In preclinical experiments, Brassinolide shows marked cytotoxicity to cancer cells via Wnt pathway inhibition. Brassinolide induced a concentration-dependent increase in the apoptotic rate and marked accumulation in the G2/M phase of cell cycle. PC-3 cells treated with brassinolide showed characteristic apoptotic alterations: shrinking cellular figure, decreasing cell surface microvilli, cytoplasmic vacuoles, chromatin condensation. Oral administration of Brassinolide decreased the levels of blood glucose. The levels of blood glucose displayed significant differences after treatment with a different dose of brassinolide. Brassinolide can still reduce the blood glucose levels without toxicity effect even at a lower dose.

Kaempferide (3,5,7-trihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone, Kae) is a naturally occurring flavonoid that is isolated from the roots of Alpinia officinarum (lesser galangal). Like other flavonoids, Kae also has a very good antioxidant properties and Kae can effectively reduce 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Studies have shown that Kae has anticancer and antihypertension effects. Kaempferide protects against myocardial Ischemia/reperfusion Injury through activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway. Kaempferide inhibited potent antioxidant activity. Kaempferide is one of the candidates for active compound in propolis. Kaempferide, the most active among the four flavonoids isolated and characterized from Chromolaena odorata, induces apoptosis in cervical cancer cells while being pharmacologically safe.

Monocrotaline is an 11-membered macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloid derived from the seeds of the Crotalaria spectabilis plant. Monocrotaline is activated to the reactive pyrrole metabolite dehydromonocrotaline in the liver, a reaction that is highly dependent on cytochrome P-450 (CYP3A4). Monocrotaline induces a syndrome characterized, among other manifestations, by pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary mononuclear vasculitis (acute necrotizing pulmonary arteritis in about one-third of the animals), and right ventricular hypertrophy. Monocrotaline is widely used to model pulmonary arterial hypertension in rodents. Monocrotaline aggregates on and activates the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) of pulmonary artery endothelial cells to trigger endothelial damage and, ultimately, induces pulmonary hypertension.

Methysticin is a kavalactone originally found in Piper methysticum (kava plant). Methysticin exhibits neuroprotective, neuromodulatory, and antifungal activities. Methysticin may also display anti-inflammatory benefit, inhibiting activation of NF-κB in lung adenocarcinoma tissue. Methysticin activates Nrf2 in neurons and astroglia, protecting against amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity. This compound displays antimicrobial efficacy against species of Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Colletotrichum. Additionally, methysticin inhibits peak amplitude of voltage-gated Na+ channels in hippocampal neurons. Methysticin administration activates the Nrf2 pathway and reduces neuroinflammation, hippocampal oxidative damage and memory loss in a mouse model of AD. Therefore, kavalactones might be suitable candidates to serve as lead compounds for the development of a new class of neuroprotective drugs.

Medicarpin, is a pterocarpan-type phytoalexin which is also classified as methoxylated isoflavonoid and is one of the major constituents of dietary legumes. Medicarpin is present in chickpea (Cicer arietinum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and in an Indian medicinal plant Butea monosperma. Medicarpin, a legume phytoalexin has excellent oral bioavailability and potent antiproliferative activity against breast cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Medicarpin also inhibits the oncogenic NF-kB signaling by attenuating the TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of p65. Medicarpin stimulates osteoblast differentiation likely via estrogen receptor (ER) beta, promotes achievement of peak bone mass. Medicarpin inhibits ER stress-induced apoptosis and promotes osteoblast cell survival by targeting GRP78. Medicarpin was isolated as nematicidal constituent from the extract Taverniera abyssinica A.

Betonicine (trans-2-carboxy-4-hydroxy-1,1,-dimethylpyrrolidinium hydroxide, inner salt) and its cis isomer, turicine, are naturally occurring substituted pyrrolidines. Betonicine was used as an analgesic 1000 years ago and is still available commercially from herbalists today. Betonicine has been isolated from Achillea millefolium L. (Compositae) and probably from A. atrata L. (Compositae); it is an alkaloid. Proline betaine and Betonicine were identified as metabolically inert cell protectants against extremes in osmolarity and growth temperatures.

Pellitorine is a major amide alkaloid, isolated from Piper longum, Zanthoxylum piperitum or heitzii, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Piper nigrum. Pellitorine can serve as an antagonist of the TRPV1 and may inhibit exovanilloid-induced pain. It exhibits anti-inflammatory activity via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Pellitorine shows a good gut permeation and rapidly permeates the BBB once in the blood, indicating a possible role in the treatment of central nervous system diseases. Pellitorine, which was isolated from the roots of Piper nigrum, showed strong cytotoxic activities against HL60 and MCT-7 cancer cell lines. The drug possesses antithrombotic activities and offers bases for development of a novel anticoagulant.

Esculetin (aka Aesculetin) is a derivative of coumarin. It is a naturally occurring lactone which is present in chicory and in many toxic medicinal plants; often found in a glycosidic form or conjugated to caffeic acids. It is used as an ingredient in some sunscreens, but there is evidence that it acts as a photosensitizer for DNA damage. Esculetin has been investigated in a number of cellular and animal cancer models, and for other conditions such as dry eyes.