Liquiritigenin is a plant-derived flavonoid isolated from the roots of plants belonging to licorice species (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza inflate etc) and is available in common foods and alternative medicine. Liquiritigenin is one of the major active compounds of MF101, selective ER-beta agonist herbal extract of 22 botanical ingredients originally tested for reducing the frequency and severity of menopausal hot flashes. At sufficient concentrations, liquiritigenin is also a partial agonist of ER-alpha but has a 20-fold higher affinity for ER-beta than for ER-alpha. Several studies showed that liquiritigenin exerts cytoprotective effects against heavy metal-induced toxicity in cultured hepatocytes, has protective effects against liver injuries induced by acetaminophen and buthione sulfoximine in rats and has an anti-inflammatory effect in macrophages suggesting its potential therapeutic use for liver diseases. Liquiritigenin inhibits the activity of MAO A and B in rat brain mitochondria and displayed favorable properties as a specific transient receptor potential melastatin 3 (TRPM3) blocker. Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of liquiritigenin are related to its modulation of the activations of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and was discovered, that this compound is a potential therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) acts on serotonin receptors 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C and functions as a full agonist at all sites except the 5-HT2A receptor, where it acts as a weak partial agonist or antagonist. In addition, TFMPP binds to the sodium-dependent serotonin transporter, SERT and evokes the release of serotonin. Besides was shown, that the N-Benzylpiperazine/TFMPP combination produced effects, which crudely mimic those of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. The neurophysiological effects of TFMPP in humans was also studied and was shown that TFMPP may affect transmitter systems involved in speeding of interhemispheric communication in the male brain.

Patchouli alcohol is a sesquiterpene with tricyclic structure and has been extracted from the whole plant of traditional Chinese medicine Guang-huo-xiang, which is also called Pogostemon cablin(Blanco) Benth. Patchouli alcohol is the nominal ingredient which standing for the typical aromatic odor and also used as the chemical reference for the quality control of P. cablin in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Patchouli alcohol has exhibited various pharmacological activities, such as protecting against the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide fragment 25–35 (Aβ25–35), enhancing cognition in memory impairment mice induced by scopolamine, anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 cells and rats models, anti-influenza virus activities in vitro and in vivo. However, Patchouli alcohol easily evaporates even at room temperature due to its volatile nature, which can cause the bioactivity decrease in the processing and storage. In addition, the development of Patchouli alcohol as medicine is greatly limited due to its low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Patchoulol is also used in the synthesis of the chemotherapy drug Taxol.

Isohexestro is a synthetic, non-steroidal estrogen of the stilbestrol group related to diethylstilbestrol, that shown to be inhibitors of microtubule assembly in vitro.

Salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, SAL) is a tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative, detected in humans. Salsolinol can be formed in the mammalian brain by three different mechanisms: (1) via the nonenzymatic Pictet–Spengler condensation of dopamine and aldehydes producing salsolinol as two racemic isomers (R or S). (2) By the nonenzymatic condensation of dopamine and pyruvate yielding 1-carboxyl-tetrahydroisoquinoline, followed by decarboxylation and reduction, which produces (R)-salsolinol. (3) By selective synthesis of (R)-salsolinol from dopamine and acetaldehyde, the level of which is increased after ethanol intake. Apart from that salsolinol has also been detected in certain beverages and foodstuff, including soy sauce, cheese. Only the (R) enantiomer of Salsolinol and occur in the human brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and intraventricular fluid (IVF), and the (S) enantiomer was not detected. Salsolinol was also found to be involved in neurotoxicity processes altering the normal function and survival of dopamine neurons. It has been proposed, that salsolinol participated in the etiopathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Salsolinol could inhibit various enzymes, for example, monoamine oxidase and tyrosine hydroxylase and recently was revealed, that (R)-SAL and (S)-SAL were agonists of the μ-opioid receptor. (S)-SAL is a more potent agonist than the (R)-SAL stereoisomer, it was suggested that an opioid action of SAL or its enantiomers is involved in the rewarding effects of ethanol.

SC 26196 is a selective delta6 fatty acid desaturase inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.