Rottlerin is a principal phenolic compound of the Kamala plant Mallotus philippinensis. It was thought to be a selective inhibitor of PKCδ (protein kinase Cδ) (IC50=3-6 uM). It also inhibits PKCα, PKCβ, PKCγ, PKCε, PKCη, PKCζ and eEF2K (CaMK III) (IC50 = 5.3 uM). In HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells, rottlerin induces apoptosis and autophagy via a PKCδ-independent pathway. When tested on HERG channels, rottlerin increased both step and tail HERG current by leftward shifting the voltage and dependence of HERG activation and slowing channel deactivation. Rottlerin is an inhibitor of Chk2, MAPKAPK-2, Pim-3, PKCλ, PKCθ, Plk, PRAK, SRPK1 and an activator of AMPK and HERG. There have been a number of studies published with evidence against the role of Rotterlin as a specific PKCδ inhibitor.

(E)-2-decenoic acid is a stereoisomer of the corresponding medium-chain fatty acid in the trans configuration. This compound excreted by the caries bacterium Streptococcus mutants and inhibits the morphological transition from yeast to hyphae, an important virulence trait, in the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans. As a component of royal jelly it exhibits estrogenic effect by activation of estrogen receptor beta. Ethyl ester of trans-2-decenoic acid exerts neurotrophin-like neurotrophic activities in animal models of stress-induced anxiety-like, cerebral infarction and spinal cord injury.

Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a natural cyclopentanone lipid belonging to the jasmonates (JAs) family of plant oxylipin stress hormones (oxygenated fatty acids). Methyl jasmonate is found universally in the plant kingdom and functions to regulate plant growth and development, as well as in stress responses through signal transduction pathways. Methyl jasmonate has recently been found to have anti-cancer activity. MJ (1) arrests cell cycle, inhibiting cell growth and proliferation, (2) causes cell death through the intrinsic/extrinsic proapoptotic, p53-independent apoptotic, and nonapoptotic (necrosis) pathways, (3) detaches hexokinase from the voltage-dependent anion channel, dissociating glycolytic and mitochondrial functions, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, favoring cytochrome c release and ATP depletion, activating pro-apoptotic, and inactivating antiapoptotic proteins, (4) induces reactive oxygen species mediated responses, (5) stimulates MAPK-stress signaling and redifferentiation in leukemia cells, (6) inhibits overexpressed proinflammatory enzymes in cancer cells such as aldo-keto reductase 1 and 5-lipoxygenase, and (7) inhibits cell migration and shows antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activities. Finally, MJ may act as a chemosensitizer to some chemotherapics helping to overcome drug resistant. The complete lack of toxicity to normal cells and the rapidity by which MJ causes damage to cancer cells turn MJ into a promising anticancer agent that can be used alone or in combination with other agents. Methyl jasmonate detached hexokinase 2 from a voltage-dependent anion channel causing a reduction in mitochondrial transmembrane potential that led to the release of cytochrome C and apoptosis inducing factor resulting in intrinsic apoptosis. Blocked adenosine triphosphate synthesis caused by mitochondrial injury hampered oxidative phosphorylation and led to cell necrosis. Methyl jasmonate may be an adjuvant therapy for liver tumors due to its mechanism in cancer cells compared to that in normal cells: The major function is to inhibit glycolysis instead of changing aerobic metabolism.

Sesamolin from Sesamun indicum seeds plays important role in plant defense, such as antifeedant as well as potent antioxidants and insecticides. Sesaminol has potent inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYPs). The neuroprotective effect of sesamolin was also observed in vivo using gerbils subjected to a focal cerebral ischemia induced by occlusion of the right common carotid artery and the right middle cerebral artery. Lipid peroxidation activity, measured as 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was significantly lower in the kidneys and liver of the sesamolin-fed rats than in the controls.