3-Hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline (3-HMC) is a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist both in vitro and in vivo. It antagonizes both the anticonvulsant and “anxiolytic” actions of diazepam. 3-HMC decreases sleep and reverses the hypnotic actions of flurazepam. 3-HMC is an active antagonist of the cerebrovascular and cerebral metabolic depression produced by flurazepam and can stimulate cerebral blood flow and cerebral O2 consumption at high doses when given alone. 3-HMC has the ability to specifically antagonize fentanyl anesthesia.

β-Hexachlorcyclohexane is a byproduct of the production of insecticide lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane). Technical grade hexachlorocyclohexane contains about 5-12% of technical grade hexachlorocyclohecane. Elevated levels of β-Hexachlorcyclohexane in blood was linked with risk of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. β-Hexachlorcyclohexane is a xenoestrogen and promotes growth and invasiveness of breast tumor cell lines.