Agnuside (AGN), an iridoid glycoside, is the principle active phytoconstituent and a chemotaxonomic marker of the genus Vitex. It is isolated from V. agnus castus, V. negundo, and V. cymosa and composed of aucubin and p-hydroxy benzoic acid (PHBA). Agnuside has exhibited estrogen-like activity which might be the reason for its use in premenstrual syndrome problems in women of fertile age as well as in menopause. It has also been reported to possess anti-arthritic activity in the polyarthritis rats which was associated with significant suppression of the inflammatory mediators and T-cell mediated cytokinines. Recently, Agnuside has shown higher hepatoprotective potential in rats in comparison to silymarin, a commercially available herbal hepatoprotective agent. In addition, Agnuside has shown an inhibitory effect on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) ATPase activity. The diversified therapeutic indications of AGN with a profoundly high medicinal value have created great curiosity among researchers for its further investigation as a medicinal agent.

Rhapontin (3, 3', 5-trihydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene-3-O-glucoside), a natural stilbenoid glycoside widely distributed in the medicinal plants of Rheum genus in China, has anti-thrombotic, anti-allergic and anti-diabetic activity and can be used as the potent antihyperlipidemic agent. In addition was shown, that rhapontin possessed anti-fibrotic activities and could prevent pulmonary fibrosis in vivo by modulating AMPK activation and suppressing the TGF-β/Smad pathway.

Yangonin is a natural kavalactone found in the kava plant. Yangonin has been shown to possess binding affinity for the cannabinoid receptor CB1, where it behaves as an agonist. Yangonin also inhibits anchorage-dependent and independent growth of bladder cancer cell lines through induction of autophagic cell death. Yangonin displays marked in vitro toxicity on human hepatocytes with approximately 40% reduction in viability based on an ethidium bromide assay and FDA advises against the use of kava in food due to the potential risk of severe liver damage.

Carnosic acid [CA, (4aR,10aS)-5,6-dihydroxy-1,1-dimethyl-7- propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthrene-4a-carboxylic acid] is a phenolic diterpene found in the leaves of the rosemary plant (Rosmarinus officinalis) and is used routinely as a food and cosmetic additive due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Carnosic acid as a food additive has a good safety profile and does not pose a health concern. Carnosic acid has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anticancer, photoprotective, and antiadipogenic activities in vitro. Carnosic acid was shown to induce significant weight loss and reduced visceral adiposity in ob/ob mice fed a diet supplemented with carnosic acid. Carnosic acid is used as a preservative or antioxidant in food and nonfood products (e.g. toothpaste, mouthwash and chewing gum) -in which it has an antimicrobial effect on the microbes responsible for bad breath- or in skin care products.

Syringic acid (SYRA) is a potential antioxidant used in traditional Chinese medicine and is an emerging nutraceutical. Current reports claim its potential anti-angiogenic, anti-glycating, anti-hyperglycaemic, neuroprotective, and memory-enhancing properties in various animal models. Syringic acid (SA) possesses anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-steatotic effects via the regulation of lipid metabolic and inflammatory genes. SA is likely to be a new natural therapeutic agent for obesity or non-alcoholic liver disease. Syringic acid reduces oxidative stress and axonal degeneration in rat sciatic nerve after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Syringic acid may play a role in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries due to ischemia/reperfusion.