Rutaecarpine is an indolopyridoquinazolinone alkaloid isolated from Evodia rutaecarpa and related herbs, first isolated by Asahina and Kashiwaki. Among the active components of evodia are quinolone and indoloquinazoline alkaloids, such as evodiamine and rutaecarpine. A significant portion of the analgesic effects of evodia is attributed to these alkaloids. Rutaecarpine has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory action that is related to inhibition of COX-2, as well as other mechanisms. Evodia rutaecarpa ('Wu-Chu-Yu') remains the most popular and multi-purpose herb traditionally used in China for treatment of headache, abdominal pain, postpartum hemorrhage, dysentery and amenorrhea. Rutaecarpine is one of the main active component isolated from 'Wu-Chu-Yu'. Rutaecarpine has been shown to have cardiovascular biological effects such as inotropic and chronotropic, vasorelaxant, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, rutaecarpine has the potential for use as an anti-atherosclerosis agent with a novel mechanism. Rutaecarpine prevents hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced myocardial cell apoptosis via inhibition of NADPH oxidases. Also was shown, that rutaecarpine could be effective in preventing the growth of a variety of cancer cells, including downregulating the estrogen receptor of breast cancer.

Solasodine is an aglycone of solamargine and solasonine, which are the major solasodine glycosides present in numerous species of the solanaceae family including potato, tomato or garden egg plant etc. In Phase II clinical trial was shown that solasodine glycosides exhibit anticancer activity against skin cancer. The effects of aglycone solasodine on cancer cells have also been investigated. Solasodine inhibits the growth of human colon and liver cancer cell. In addition, solasodine effectively inhibits proliferation of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and inhibits invasion of human lung cancer cells. Solasodine possesses CNS activities such as antipyretic, anticonvulsant and memory enhancing effects. Also, solasodine has been found to possess diuretic, antifungal, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-spermatogenetic and antiandrogenic effects.

Dehydroabietic acid (DHA or DAA), a diterpene, is obtained from Commiphora oppbalsamum. DHA has potential as treatment for obesity and metabolic syndrome, obese diabetic KK-Ay mice treated with DHA showed decreased plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels. It has been reported that DHA inhibits the production of proinfammatory mediators such as TNF-α in macrophages and adipocytes and causes endothelium-dependent relaxation of pulmonary artery via PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling pathway. Also was shown, that DHA could reverse several cell responses stimulated by TNF-α, including the activation of FOXO1 and the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. Thus, DAA could be useful in improving the diabetic wound healing.

Oleanolic acid or oleanic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid. It is widely distributed in food and plants where it exists as a free acid or as an aglycone of triterpenoid saponins. Oleanolic acid protects the liver from acute chemically induced liver injury, fibrosis and cirrhosis caused by chronic liver diseases. Its possess cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines